Billy Joel says doctors told him not to perform or drive

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in autumn 2026, Billy Joel said his doctors had advised him not to perform live and not to drive. The singer-songwriter said he was still undergoing tests, and that his medical team had not cleared him to return to the stage.

The warning was tied to the brain condition he disclosed in 2025, normal pressure hydrocephalus, a build-up of fluid in the brain that can affect balance, walking and thinking. That diagnosis led him to cancel his remaining concert dates earlier that year. Joel indicated that his health remained a concern, and that driving was now risky for him.

He also said he was selling off his collection of motorcycles, a long-standing passion that had been well known among fans. He suggested that riding and driving no longer made sense given his condition, and said the sale was a practical decision. The bikes were due to be offered at auction.

The interview mattered because it was a rare personal update from one of America's best-selling artists. It showed that, more than a year after his tour was halted, his return to live performance remained uncertain and depended on medical advice.