Joann SchefflerIn February, 2025, New York music icon Billy Joel experienced a fall on stage during his concert at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut, leading to a frightening health discovery. Now, more than a year later, the singer has opened up about his health issues and the procedures and treatments he has undergone since the fall.
Billy Joel has kept fairly low-key when it comes to publicly discussing his health concerns. That is, until recently, when he gave his fans listening to his SiriusXM show, The Billy Joel Channel, a full update. The Uptown Girl singer revealed he had undergone brain surgery and shared answers to the questions his fans have been asking.
Billy Joel Reveals Unsettling Symptoms Before Surgery
According to the Daily Mail, Joel’s 2025 fall is not the culprit behind his health issues. However, it did open up concerns that the singer had been experiencing for some time before the fall. After seeking medical treatment, Billy admits he was diagnosed with NPH (normal pressure hydrocephalus), a condition that impacts coordination, hearing, and memory.
‘I had this sense of being on a boat, like this rocking motion. I wasn’t steady on my feet,’ Joel stated.
Joel recounts the details, stating that his specialists strictly advised him to stop performing due to the impact that his NPH could have on his health. Doctors warned him that performing was prompting something like a concussion every time I did a show and that he could be losing more brain cells the more shows he did.
He explained, “I realized that means I shouldn’t be doing this right now. I got to improve. I agreed to do the shunt, and I had surgery, and they implanted a shunt in my brain, and it actually improved. My memory got better, my balance got a little better, and my ability to function was better.”
The Road To Recovery
For now, Billy Joel continues to undergo specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period. He adds that he is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritizing his health. He is also grateful for the support from his fans.
So what is NPH, and what should you watch for? The Hydrocephalus Association describes NPH as a neurological condition characterized by an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain’s cavities.
The condition is mostly found in older adults and is often confused with dementia. Symptoms to watch for include difficulty walking and problems with balance. For many, it appears as a shuffling of the feet. Other symptoms can include cognitive changes and problems with bladder control.
The Barrow Neurological Institute reports that experts estimate more than 700,000 to 800,000 older Americans are currently living with NPH. The condition is highly age-dependent, affecting fewer than 3% of adults over 65 but increasing to roughly 5% of adults over 80.
For now, Billy Joel is focused on his recovery and hopes to soon be back on stage, entertaining his fans.
Joann covers high-profile industry features, investigative entertainment stories, and long-form trending media profiles. She has 15 years of experience in the online news vertical.
