Billy Joel took to the stage for the first time since being diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH).
Joel, 76, performed a two-song concert at Wellington’s 30th birthday party in Florida on Friday, January 2, it has been reported. The Palm Beach Post. The outlet reported that Joel sang his hits “We Didn’t Start the Fire” and “Big Shot” for the crowd.
“I wasn’t planning on working tonight,” Joel joked at the start of his set, apparently acknowledging his diagnosis and the toll it has had on his career.
After Joel’s impromptu show, the audience applauded the musician repeatedly chanting his name.
Joel announced in May 2025 that he was diagnosed with NPH and had to cancel his upcoming tour to recover. (NPH, according to the Cleveland Clinic, is a brain disorder where fluid builds up in the skull and, if left untreated, can permanently destroy brain tissue.)
“This condition has been aggravated by recent concert performances, which has caused problems with hearing, vision and balance.” an Instagram statement to read “As per his doctor’s instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from this during his recovery period.”
The note continued: “Billy is grateful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to making his health a priority. He appreciates the fans’ support during this time and looks forward to the day he can once again take the stage.”
Joel also shared a personal note at the time, saying he was “sincerely sorry” to disappoint fans and, in the wake of his canceled concerts, thanked them for their “understanding.”
Joel’s eldest daughter Alexa later offered her support.
“We love you and we have you, Pop! I just wanted to thank you all for the beauty outpouring of love and support amid the recent news of my father’s health diagnosis,” Alexa, which Joel shares with the ex-wife. Christie Brinkleyhe wrote via Instagram at the time. “My father is the strongest and most resilient man I have ever known, and he is fully committed to a full recovery with ongoing physiotherapy treatments as he continues to regain his strength.”
Billy Joel bared it all in Billy Joel: And So It Goes. The two-part HBO documentary, which premiered July 18 and July 25, offered an inside look at the Piano Man’s life, exploring “the love, loss and personal struggles that fuel his songwriting,” according to the film’s official description. “I haven’t finished… (…)
Weeks later, Joel’s friend Howard Stern revealed that the singer’s condition was not a cause for concern.
“I saw Billy Joel two weeks ago (and) we had dinner together,” Stern, 71, said. on his radio show in June 2025. “He’s OK. He’s in trouble, but he said, ‘Yeah, you can tell people I’m not dying.’ He wants people to know that. He’s got some medical stuff to deal with.”
Stern also said it was “a pleasure” to see Billy and his wife, Alexis Roderick Joel. (Billy and Alexis, 43, share two daughters.)
“We had a great time with the ladies,” Howard said, also referring to his wife, Beth Stern. “We had a great conversation. I was telling him (that) I like to play classical music on the guitar. He lit up because that’s what he likes. It was even his birthday, so I took out the guitar and sang him ‘Happy Birthday.’
Following Billy and Alexis’ dinner with the Sterns, the “Piano Man” artist continued to prioritize her health.
“It’s not fixed. It’s still a work in progress,” he said during an appearance in July 2025 activated Bill Maher“Club Random” podcast. “My balance hurts, it’s like being on a boat.”
According to Joel, his symptoms “sound much worse than what (he’s) feeling.”