Billy Joel reveals he had brain surgery for hydrocephalus

Billy Joel, the American singer-songwriter, revealed publicly that he had undergone brain surgery to treat normal pressure hydrocephalus, a build-up of fluid in the brain. The condition can cause balance problems, memory trouble and difficulty walking, and its symptoms are sometimes mistaken for dementia.

He spoke on his own channel on SiriusXM, the US satellite radio service. Joel said he had a shunt, a small drainage device, placed to relieve the excess fluid. He described feeling unsteady, as if rocking on a boat, and said his memory and balance had improved somewhat afterwards. His message to fans was essentially that he was still here and they should not worry about him.

The disclosure came after the diagnosis had already been announced in 2025, when he cancelled his planned concert dates on medical advice. It mattered because it explained why one of America's best-known live performers had stepped back from the stage, and it left open whether and when he could safely perform again. Doctors reportedly advised him against performing for the time being.