Thu Jul 24 11:30:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
Billy Joel, the iconic “Piano Man” singer, assures fans he is “OK” after canceling tour dates in May due to a diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH), a condition affecting his hearing, vision, and balance. While acknowledging the condition is “scary” and impacts his balance, Joel emphasized that he is not “deathly ill” and is actively working to recover. He underwent surgery in March and is receiving physical therapy. He also addressed his health on Bill Maher’s podcast. While his health issues aren’t “fixed”, Joel is determined to manage the condition.
**News Article:**
**Billy Joel Assures Fans He’s “OK” Despite Brain Disorder Diagnosis**
**NEW YORK (AP)** – Billy Joel, the beloved “Piano Man,” is reassuring fans about his health after canceling concert dates earlier this year. The 76-year-old singer revealed he was diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH), a brain disorder causing fluid buildup that has impacted his hearing, vision, and balance.
“I know a lot of people are worried about me and my health, but I’m OK,” Joel stated in an interview with People magazine. “What I have is something very few people know about, including me, no matter how much you try to research it. I’m doing my best to work with it and to recover from it.”
Joel described his balance as being “like being on a boat” during an appearance on Bill Maher’s “Club Random” podcast, adding that he feels “fine” overall.
He underwent surgery in March to address the underlying issue and has been undergoing physical therapy. While it remains unclear if the March surgery was directly related to his NPH diagnosis, a statement at the time indicated that doctors expected a full recovery.
NPH can cause problems with walking, bladder control, and thinking, and is treatable with surgery to drain excess fluid.
Despite the challenges, Joel emphasized, “It was scary, but I’m OK. I just wanted to let people know, don’t worry about me being deathly ill or anything.” He added that his health issues are not “fixed” but “it’s still being worked on.”
A representative for Joel declined further comment.
**Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.**