Billy Joel has given fans a rare update on his health, a month after he underwent brain surgery. The 77-year-old shared that the diagnosis of his brain disorder, normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), "sounds a lot worse than it actually is," and that he is "okay."
"I know people are worried about me because they read that I have a brain disorder, which sounds a lot worse than it actually is," he told listeners to his SiriusXM show, The Billy Joel Channel.
© Getty ImagesThe "Piano Man" singer revealed that his "balance isn't that good" and that he had also "lost a little bit of my hearing," but insisted it was more to do with age and decades of touring than the NPH. "I want people to not have to worry about me. I'm okay, and I appreciate your call," he stated.
Billy was diagnosed in May 2026, and in early September he had a shunt implanted in his brain so his symptoms did not continue to get worse.
"I realized it can help improve your balance and can help your memory," he said on SiriusXM’s Billy Joel channel. "You know, 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."
NPH is a condition in which cerebrospinal fluid builds up inside or around your brain and can affect hearing, vision and balance.
It was a successful procedure, as Billy revealed his "memory got better, my balance got a little better, my ability to function was better."
He was forced to cancel tour dates in North America and England to seek treatment for the condition, and earlier in 2026 Billy's daughter Alexa Ray Joel, whom he shares with Christie Brinkley, shared that he was working hard to improve his health.
© Getty Images"He's doing physical therapy regularly, and he's doing great. He's lost weight as he's on his diet," she explained. "I'm so proud of him. He's such a trooper, so resilient and committed to being healthy and proactive. He's a fighter. He's always been a fighter."
Billy is also dad to daughters, Della, 11, and eight-year-old Remy, whom he welcomed with fourth wife Alexis Roderick; the pair tied the knot on July 4, 2015.
All three of his daughters have followed in their father's footsteps, with Alexa often joining Billy on stage, including multiple times at Madison Square Garden residency which ended in 2024.
© Getty ImagesIn March 2026 she sang Billy's popular song "This Night," during a tribute concert at Carnegie Hall for the legendary singer, and in 2019 Alexa appeared on stage during his residency to sing "happy birthday" to her father, and was joined hand-in-hand by a young Della.
Della and Remy have also both joined their father on stage, most notably on the final night of his Madison Square Garden residency.
