Billy Joel shares major health update with fans after brain disorder diagnosis

Music icon Billy Joel has assured fans that he is "not dying" in his recent health update to fans after being diagnosed with a brain disorder, which forced him to cancel his tour.

Last month, the 76-year-old singer-songwriter revealed in an Instagram post that he was cancelling his entire touring plans after he was diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH), which resulted from a recent fall.

In his statement, Joel shared that his condition had been “exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance."

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Now, Joel’s friend Howard Stern has relayed a brief message from the artist on his SiriusXM radio show, The Howard Stern Radio Show.

“I saw Billy Joel two weeks ago, we had dinner together,” host Stern told his listeners (per NME). “He’s doing fine. He does have issues, but he said, ‘Yeah, you can tell people: I’m not dying’. You know, he wants people to know that.

“He just… he’s gotta deal with some medical stuff, but it was delightful. We had a great time with the wives, we had a great conversation. I was telling him I’m enjoying playing classical music on the guitar. He lit up, because that’s what he’s into.”

Stern added: “Then it was his birthday [on May 9], I even brought out the guitar and sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to him.”

The update comes after Joel’s daughter, Alexa Ray, said her father was “entirely committed to making a full recovery with ongoing physical-therapy treatments as he continues to regain his strength."

She also called her famous dad “the strongest and most resilient man I’ve ever known”, and thanked his fans for “the genuine care, empathy, and concern” they’d shown since he revealed his diagnosis.

Joel’s wife, Alexis Roderick, said the couple were “hopeful for his recovery” and “look forward to seeing you all in the future."

“We are so grateful for the wonderful care and swift diagnosis we received,” she wrote. “Bill is beloved by so many, and to us, he is a father and husband who is at the center of our world.”

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The singer's statement sharing his diagnosis further explained: "Under his doctor's instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period."

Offering an optimistic outlook, the statement added: "Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritizing his health.

"He is grateful for the support from fans during this time and looks forward to the day when he can once again take the stage. I'm sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding."

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH), as described by Cleveland Clinic, is a treatable and often reversible condition caused by cerebrospinal fluid accumulating within an individual's skull and applying pressure to the brain.

This impacts 0.2% of individuals aged 70 to 80 and 5.9% of those over 80.

To manage the condition, surgery is required to implant a shunt that drains the excess fluid. Symptoms can range from loss of bladder control and memory issues to emotional changes and difficulty with walking.

Joel's diagnosis follows an incident in February when he took a tumble during a Connecticut concert. While spinning his microphone and tossing it towards the crowd, he stumbled and fell backwards.

The Vienna singer quickly bounced back and carried on with the performance without further mishap.

Joel's Instagram post also provided details about ticket refunds for his cancelled shows, assuring fans that they need not take any action as the refund will be processed back to the original payment method.

In March, it was revealed that Joel was postponing eight stadium concerts he was scheduled for between then and July, citing an undisclosed “medical condition” and saying that his “health must come first.”

At the time, the announcement said that the singer “is expected to make a full recovery” after a recent surgery and will be undergoing doctor-supervised physical therapy as he recovers.

“While I regret postponing any shows, my health must come first,” Joel said in the statement. “I look forward to getting back on stage and sharing the joy of live music with our amazing fans. Thank you for your understanding.”