Billy Joel opens up about brain disorder diagnosis
Billy Joel recently opened up about his health on ‘Bill Maher’s Club Random’ podcast, revealing his diagnosis with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH).
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Billy Joel wants fans to know he is alive and well and to prove it, will host a live call-in special on his SiriusXM channel.
During the show, which airs at 2 p.m. ET Sept. 24 on The Billy Joel Channel (93), Joel will field calls from listeners at 844-365-BILLY. Fans can also start submitting questions now via video, voice or text at siriusxm.com/askbilly.
The timing of Joel’s public audio appearance follows a cringing Google error that said he died.
At least one screenshot shared online appeared to show a Google search result listing Sept. 17 as Joel’s date of death. Separately, one X user alleged the same date appeared on Joel’s Wikipedia page.
A representative for Joel, 77, confirmed in an email to USA TODAY last week that the iconic musician is still very much alive; a Google spokesperson said the incorrect information had been removed.
What is Billy Joel diagnosed with?
Joel, who canceled his tour dates in 2025 following a diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus, recently spoke about his brain surgery and recovery on his SIRIUSXM channel.
After doctors recommended a shunt implant into his brain, Joel balked.
“I said, ‘Nah, I think I’ll pass on that,’” he said. “I didn’t want to do that, but then I read up on it and realized it can help improve your balance and can help your memory … so I agreed to the shunt and I had a surgery and they implanted the shunt in my brain and it actually improved things.”
Joel said his symptoms were like “this rocking motion” akin to being on a boat, and that doctors connected its cause to his job as a musician.
“Playing rock ‘n’ roll music very loud, it was giving me something like a concussion every time I did a show. It was causing damage to my brain nerves and I could be losing more brain cells the more shows I did and I realized that means I shouldn’t be doing this right now,” says Joel
But, Joel said at the end of his disclosure, “I’m OK. I just want people to know, don’t worry about me. I’m not going anywhere. I’m still here.”
Contributing: KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY