Billy Joel Opens Up About the Surprising Condition That Led Him to Cancel All His Concerts — and the Surgery That Followed

A false Google result claimed Billy Joel had died, prompting his publicist to quickly set the record straight. The error comes as the singer has been opening up about a major health setback.

Joel recently revealed what sent him to a neurologist, what doctors discovered, and why he initially resisted the treatment they recommended.

A Google search for Billy Joel incorrectly displayed an informational box stating that he had “Died Sept. 17, 2026,” according to Newsday. His publicist, Claire Mercuri, confirmed that the information was false.

“Billy’s not dead,” Mercuri said Thursday afternoon. “I was just emailing with him.” The false report surfaced as Joel recently shared new details about the health problems that forced him to step away from performing.

In an interview on SiriusXM, Joel recalled the physical changes that first made him realize something was wrong. “I noticed that my balance was not good. I have this sense of like, being on a boat, like this rocking motion. I wasn’t steady on my feet. I didn’t know why that was,” Joel said.

Because he did not know what was causing the problem, he went to a neurologist.

The Diagnosis Behind Billy Joel’s Health Problems

Joel revealed that he was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, or NPH, a condition he said was previously called “water on the brain.”

“Nobody’s really sure what causes it, but they’re able to diagnose it,” Joel said.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, NPH occurs when excess cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF, builds up in cavities in the brain called ventricles. The buildup can enlarge the ventricles and put pressure on nearby brain tissue.

NPH most often affects older adults. Possible symptoms include trouble walking, poor balance, falls, forgetfulness, confusion, and loss of bladder control.

Because some NPH symptoms can resemble those associated with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, doctors may use brain scans, walking evaluations, spinal taps, and other tests to help confirm the condition.

For Joel, receiving the diagnosis also meant considering the treatment his doctors recommended.

Joel Initially Resisted the Recommended Treatment

Joel said doctors warned that his condition could progress and recommended implanting a shunt in his brain. After hearing that the procedure would involve drilling through his skull to place the device, he initially did not want to go through with it.

He later researched the treatment and reconsidered. Joel also found it difficult to determine which changes he was experiencing were related to aging and which were connected to his condition.

“It’s hard to tell what’s age and what’s a condition. So, I agreed to do the shunt, and I had a surgery, and they implanted a shunt in my brain, and it actually improved things,” Joel said. “My memory got better, my balance got a little better, my ability to function was better.”

Johns Hopkins explains that a shunt used to treat NPH drains excess cerebrospinal fluid from the brain. The tube is typically placed in a brain ventricle and routed under the skin to the abdomen, where the excess fluid is absorbed by the body. The treatment does not work for everyone, though some patients benefit from it.

Why Joel Stepped Away From Performing

Joel’s concert schedule had already been affected by his health. In March 2025, he announced that several shows would be rescheduled, and in May, he canceled his remaining scheduled concerts.

In his recent SiriusXM interview, Joel offered more context about why performing had become a concern.

“I realized, and the doctors told me this, because of my job, which is playing rock and roll music very loud, that it was giving me something like a concussion every time I did a show,” Joel said. “It was causing damage to my brain nerves and I could be losing more brain cells the more I played the more shows I did.”

That information affected how Joel approached performing while he worked on his health.

“I realized that means I shouldn’t be doing this right now. I got to improve. They don’t want me to stress too much. So, I’m doing physical therapy,” he said. “I’m doing whatever it is they tell me to do because I don’t want to lose it, you know? So, I’m always testing myself.”

Joel Reassured Fans About His Health

Billy Joel has made occasional appearances since canceling his concerts, including on “Club Random With Bill Maher” and Rick Beato’s YouTube podcast. He also addressed the concern surrounding news of his brain disorder.

“I know people have heard, ‘Oh, he’s got a brain disorder.’ And I’m okay,” Joel said. “I just want people to know, don’t worry about me. I’m not going anywhere. I’m here. I’m still here.”

Joel’s health struggles had already prompted an outpouring of support from those closest to him. As previously reported in May 2025, his ex-wife publicly shared her hopes for his recovery after news of his condition emerged.

Christie Brinkley posted a tribute on Instagram, sharing a video of herself and her daughter, Sailor, attending one of Joel’s concerts. Her caption read, “Dear Billy ,The whole Brinkley gang is sending you lots of love and good wishes for a full and speedy recovery.”

She explained that the post was initially inspired by her search for photos of Joel with their daughter, Alexa Ray Joel. During that search, she came across the video clip, which made her laugh but also reminded her of the energy and joy Joel brings to his audiences.

“It also reminded me of all the joy you create, and all the sensational sing a longs [sic] you’ve lead [sic] … you turn an arena of strangers into a living room full of friends as we all sway in unison,” she continued. She emphasized how many people are rooting for his recovery and expressed a collective desire to see him return to the stage.

“We all want you back in that white hot spotlight, you’re OUR piano man. And we’re always in the mood for your melodies And we all hope you’re feeling alright! We Love You, the kids, me and a whole bunch of full arenas,” she concluded.

Responses to her post quickly followed. Many praised the gesture, with one commenter writing, “That’s class.” Another added, “Very classy.” Some saw her post as evidence of lasting goodwill, such as one user who commented, “That’s because he was never cruel or mean to her. He respected her. So she is paying it back to him.”

Another shared, “My heart goes out to Billy and his family during this difficult time. It’s beautiful to see Christie showing such grace and support—true love and compassion don’t end with divorce. Wishing him strength, healing, and all the love he needs right now.”

One person wrote, “Heartfelt support from Christie Brinkley shows the lasting bond they share wishing Billy Joel a smooth recovery.” However, not all comments were supportive. A user asked, “Why does she need to use the socials to post this? She can’t text him?”

Another wrote, “I think she plagiarized that.” Some viewed her post through the lens of her recent press appearances, such as one user who commented, “I recently saw her interviewed about her new book, entitled Uptown Girl. She seemed like she still loves him.”

Another commented, “When a woman truly loves a man, she will use her voice to speak truth, wellness and compassionate justice about the one she loves the most ❤️Christy is 💯🇺🇸❤️”

Hours before Brinkley’s message, their daughter Alexa had also posted a tribute to her dad. Alongside a black-and-white image of a father and daughter holding hands, she wrote, “SOUND UP 🕊️ We love you and we got you, Pop!” Alexa also thanked fans for their support and described her father as strong and fully committed to recovery.

“My Dad is the strongest and most resilient man I’ve ever known… and he’s entirely committed to making a full recovery with ongoing physical-therapy treatments as he continues to regain his strength,” she added. She ended her message with lyrics that speak to the enduring nature of love and music, and signed off with, “🕊️ All My Love, Alexa Ray.”

Brinkley and Joel married on March 23, 1985. They had one child, Alexa, and began building their dream home in the Hamptons. By the early 1990s, their careers and personal pressures had begun to take a toll on their relationship. They separated in 1994.

Brinkley has recently revisited their history in her memoir, “Uptown Girl,” released in April 2025. In the book, she wrote about the ups and downs of their marriage. The title was drawn from the hit song Joel wrote, which became synonymous with her public image.

In the book, Brinkley revealed that the song had initially been written for a “mystery girl” Joel had been talking to on the phone, but once their relationship began, he finished the song in her honor. Their romance was captured in the music video for the hit song, where she made a cameo appearance.

Brinkley reflected on the joyful moments they shared — singing together, dancing in the kitchen, and finding humor in everyday life. However, she also described how emotional distance began to form, even while they lived under the same roof.

She acknowledged that it was difficult to write about his drinking and rumored affairs, saying, “The hardest thing to include was criticism of Billy, because I do care about my friendship with him.” But alongside those memories, Brinkley also described the emotional distance that eventually set in.

She wrote of feeling “lonely, despite the fact that he was right there.” In a moment after their separation, she recalled boarding a helicopter in Colorado for a heli-skiing trip and wondering if Joel would be worried about her.

In an excerpt obtained by People magazine, Brinkley explained that she never truly wanted the marriage to end, writing, “To be clear, I never wanted to end things with Billy. But his drinking was bigger than the both of us.”

She later described the separation as deeply painful, calling it “the worst kind of loneliness because you just can’t make it work together and that’s painful.”

As Joel continues his recovery, Brinkley’s message and their daughter’s tribute remain as public displays of support.