Billy Joel has always been a fixture of American music, the kind of artist whose songs manage to cut through generations. But as of May 2025, the 76 year old singer-songwriter has pressed pause on all performances through mid 2026, following a diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus, a neurological condition that causes a buildup of fluid in the brain. It affects hearing, vision, and balance, and for Joel, those symptoms grew more serious during recent shows. In a statement, he thanked fans for their continued support and said he remains hopeful about performing again once his health allows.

“I started noticing small things at first,” Joel said in a statement released through his publicist. “I was feeling off-balance on stage, and there were moments where I couldn’t quite hear or see clearly. It scared me, and I knew I had to take it seriously.” On medical advice, Joel has halted all touring plans to focus on treatment and physical therapy. “I’m staying hopeful,” he added. “I’ve been through tough chapters before, and this is just another one. I’m not done yet.”

The announcement came just as Joel had been finding new momentum in his career. In 2024, he released Turn the Lights Back On, his first original single in 17 years. The song was welcomed as a thoughtful return to songwriting and added to the emotional weight of his live performances. Over the past year, Joel had shared the stage with longtime friends and fellow legends like Sting, Stevie Nicks, and Rod Stewart, playing to packed stadiums across the United States and United Kingdom.

Born in New York City in 1949, Joel’s music has reflected the hopes and heartbreaks of everyday life. With the release of Piano Man in 1973, inspired by his nights playing in Los Angeles bars, he became an unexpected voice for working-class Americans. With a catalog that includes Just the Way You Are, Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, Uptown Girl, and We Didn’t Start the Fire, has sold more than 160 million records globally, earned six Grammy Awards, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.