BREAKING: Singer Billy Joel cancels all shows over rare health condition

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Singer Billy Joel announced in an Instagram post Friday that he has had to cancel all his scheduled performances for the next year, due to a serious health condition.

Joel has been diagnosed with a rare brain disorder which is affecting his hearing, vision and balance.

The Instagram announcement reads:

Billy Joel has announced that he will be cancelling all scheduled concerts following a recent diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH). This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision, and balance. Under his doctor’s instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period.

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,” said Billy Joel.

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The announcement includes Joel’s concert schedule, with 16 remaining concerts on the list which are all cancelled over the next year, from July 2025 through July 2026.

 

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A post shared by Billy Joel (@billyjoel)

Below are excerpts from the NIH website about this medical condition:

What is hydrocephalus?

Hydrocephalus is an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) deep within the brain. This excess fluid causes the ventricles (cavities) within the brain to widen, putting harmful pressure on the brain’s tissues. Hydrocephalus may be present at or shortly after birth or may result over time from damage or injury.

CSF protects and cushions the brain and spine. The body typically produces enough CSF each day to flow through the ventricles and bathe the brain and spinal cord before being reabsorbed into the bloodstream. Excess buildup of CSF can keep the brain from functioning properly and cause brain damage or even death.

  • Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH): causes problems with walking, bladder control, and difficulties thinking and reasoning. The increase in cerebrospinal fluid in NPH happens slowly enough that the tissues around the ventricles compensate and the fluid pressure inside the head does not increase. NPH can happen in people of any age, but is most common in older adults. The symptoms of NPH usually get worse over time if it  is not treated. NPH can result from bleeding in the brain’s CSF (also known as subarachnoid or intraventricular hemorrhage), head trauma, infection, tumor, or a complication of surgery. However, many people develop NPH when none of these factors are present. It can be hard to diagnose NPH, with many people not receiving proper treatment. Early diagnosis and treatment improve the chance of a good recovery. Without treatment, NPH symptoms may worsen and cause death.

Well wishes are pouring in for Joel:

DMLNewsApp founder Dennis Michael Lynch wrote, “If you’ve followed me for any length of time you know I’m a huge Billy Joel fan. He grew up down the block from me, went to the same grammar school, and many songs are about mutual friends and our Hicksville / Levittown neighborhood. I had the great opportunity to interview him for a film I made in 2008, and while at his house I stepped in his dog’s poop with my flip flops on. Always down to earth, Billy washed my foot clean. Today, he announced the cancellation of his concerts due to a rare brain disorder. My prayers go out to the best song writer in history, and to a guy who never forgets where he comes from.”

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