Billy Joel Shares Health Update After Brain Surgery for Hydrocephalus

Billy Joel has shared a health update, revealing he underwent brain surgery after being diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus in May 2025.

Joel announced the diagnosis last year and canceled all tour plans to focus on his health.

In a recent recording on his SiriusXM channel, Joel said he first noticed balance problems.

"I noticed that my balance was not good," Joel said. "I had this sense of being on a boat, like this rocking motion. I wasn't steady on my feet. I didn't know why that was. I went to meet with the neurologist and I was diagnosed with having something called normal pressure hydrocephalus, which they used to call water on the brain. Nobody's really sure what causes it, but they're able to diagnose it."

Doctors warned that the condition could worsen and recommended a procedure to implant a shunt in his brain.

"I said, 'Well, what does that entail?'" Joel recalled. "Well, we drill a hole through your skull and we stick a shunt inside your brain," the doctor explained. "I said, 'Nah, I think I'll pass on that.' I didn't want to do that."

Joel said he later researched the procedure and decided to go ahead with the surgery.

"I read up on it and realized it can help improve your balance and can help your memory," he said. "I don't want to lose my marbles. It's hard to tell what's age and what's a condition. So, I agreed to do the shunt and I had a surgery and they implanted a shunt in my brain and it actually improved things. My memory got better, my balance got a little better, my ability to function was better."

Joel said his doctors told him that performing loud rock concerts 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 I played, the more shows I did. And I realized that means I shouldn't be doing this right now. I gotta improve."

Since announcing his diagnosis, Joel has made only one public performance-a surprise two-song guest appearance with a Billy Joel tribute band in January. He said he remains focused on recovery.

"They don't want me to stress too much. So, I'm doing physical therapy. I'm doing whatever it is they tell me to do because I don't want to lose it," Joel said. "I know people have heard, 'Oh, he's got a brain disorder.' And I'm okay. I just want people to know, don't worry about me. I'm not going anywhere. I'm here. I'm still here."