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Music legend Billy Joel has spoken candidly about his ongoing battle with a brain condition that affects his balance, saying he feels “fine” but admitting his equilibrium “sucks.”
The 75-year-old singer-songwriter opened up about his health during an interview on Club Random Podcast with Bill Maher, shedding light on a little-known diagnosis called normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), formerly referred to as “water on the brain.”
Although the disorder has impacted his ability to stay steady on his feet, Joel reassured fans that he remains in good spirits, still performing, and committed to his music.
“It’s not fixed, it’s still being worked on,” he explained to Maher. “I feel fine. My balance sucks, it’s like being on a boat.”
Joel admitted doctors have been unable to determine the exact cause of the condition. When asked what brought it on, he replied: “Nobody knows. They don’t know.” In his trademark self-deprecating style, Joel joked: “I thought it must be from drinking.” Then he clarified: “I don’t drink anymore. But I used to, like a fish.”
Despite the unsettling diagnosis, the Piano Man remains upbeat. “I feel good. They keep referring to what I have as a brain disorder so it sounds a lot worse than what I’m feeling, y’know?” he said with a smile.
Billy Joel has been a towering figure in music for more than five decades, selling over 150 million records worldwide with timeless hits like Piano Man, New York State of Mind, and Just the Way You Are. His monthly residency at Madison Square Garden has been running for over 10 years and continues to sell out.
Fans have noticed him leaning on the piano or moving more carefully during recent performances, but Joel has made no secret of his health struggles over the years. He previously underwent double hip replacement surgery and has spoken about weight gain and arthritis as part of aging. On stage and off, however, his energy and voice remain strong.
Since the podcast aired, fans have taken to social media to share their admiration and love. One wrote: “Billy Joel is a national treasure. We love you, Billy, take care of yourself.” Another posted: “I hope he knows how much joy he still brings to all of us.”
Joel’s candor about his condition is yet another example of why audiences around the world continue to adore him, not just for his music, but for his honesty and humour in the face of life’s challenges. For now, he continues to live his life as he always has: on his own terms, with a song in his heart.
