Billy Joel health changed again in a Hollywood Reporter interview, where the 77-year-old said he is not allowed to drive and cannot perform right now after his 2025 diagnosis with normal pressure hydrocephalus, or NPH. The update narrows the practical reality for a performer whose return to the stage has already been pushed back once.
“I’m not allowed to drive,” he said, adding, “And I can’t do performances because what the neurologist told me, every time you do a show, it’s like you’re getting a concussion.” He also said he has to take a series of tests before he can tour again, which keeps the question of a comeback tied to medical clearance rather than scheduling.
May 2025 and NPH
Joel canceled concerts in May 2025 after revealing two months before that he had normal pressure hydrocephalus, or NPH. In that May statement, he said the condition had been exacerbated by recent concert performances and that it had led to problems with hearing, vision and balance.
He also said, “Under his doctor’s instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period.” That phrasing matters because it shows the issue was never just fatigue or a short break; it was a direct medical restriction tied to recovery.
Mohegan Sun Arena fall
On Feb. 22, 2025, Joel lost his balance while performing “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. He later described feeling as if he were trying to maintain balance on a boat during a July 21, 2025 appearance on Bill Maher’s podcast Club Random.
The diagnosis itself has also been framed carefully. NPH is described as a brain disorder in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain’s ventricles, and it can cause cognitive issues, difficulty walking and loss of bladder control. It is one of the few causes of dementia that can be controlled or reversed with surgical treatment, usually involving the placement of a shunt, though it is unclear whether Joel underwent that procedure.
Joel’s return timeline
Joel has said the condition is “not that serious” and added, “I’m OK,” even as neurologists warned him that lighting and sound can create stress in the body during performances. That combination explains why his public update sounds upbeat while his touring status stays limited.
For now, the decisive issue is the test series he said comes before any return to touring. Until he passes that medical review, the stage remains off-limits and the answer to his comeback sits with the doctors, not the promoter.
