Billy Joel cancels live performance tour dates and divulges mind situation analysis

Billy Joel has canceled his upcoming tour, together with all of his scheduled live shows as much as early July 2026, after a latest well being analysis.

The long-lasting singer introduced Friday he was recognized with regular strain hydrocephalus, which has been exacerbated by latest performances, resulting in issues together with his listening to, imaginative and prescient and stability.

“I am sincerely sorry to disappoint our viewers, and thanks for understanding,” Joel mentioned in an announcement.

Joel, 76, was suggested by his physician to chorus from performing as he undergoes bodily remedy, in keeping with the assertion.

Within the meantime, Joel is trying ahead to when he can return to the stage, the assertion mentioned.

Followers who had bought tickets to an upcoming efficiency will likely be mechanically refunded, in keeping with the assertion.

Joel had been scheduled to carry out in Milwaukee in April, however that present was postponed. He was set to kick off a sequence of performances beginning in July in Pittsburgh.

The tour was supposed to incorporate eight performances that had been rescheduled to both later this 12 months or subsequent 12 months, ending July 3, 2026.

Many of the performances had been presupposed to be within the U.S., however Joel was additionally scheduled to carry out in Canada and the U.Okay.

Legendary musicians Stevie Nicks, Rod Stewart and Sting had been anticipated to affix Joel at completely different factors on the tour.

What’s regular strain hydrocephalus?

Regular strain hydrocephalus, or NPH, is a mind situation that happens when fluid builds up inside or across the mind, disrupting sure brain-related capabilities.

Cerebrospinal fluid, which cushions the mind and spinal twine, is the kind of fluid that builds up. Usually, your physique makes simply sufficient of this fluid every day and absorbs that very same quantity, in keeping with Johns Hopkins, however typically an excessive amount of fluid can construct up, resulting in NPH. 

“If that will increase abnormally, it may well construct up in these chambers, known as ventricles, within the mind,” CBS Information chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook defined. “And that may trigger strain on regular mind tissue.”

In consequence, he mentioned, folks with the situation might expertise signs together with “hassle pondering, hassle strolling and hassle with urinary incontinence,” although not each affected person can have all the identical signs.

“Normally, it simply comes out of the blue. We actually do not know why,” LaPook mentioned.

An MRI mind scan can detect the difficulty, and medical consultants say it’s often treatable. The therapy usually entails a surgical process to implant a shunt with the intention to drain the fluid. LaPook mentioned he lately had a affected person who was handled this manner, “and now he is feeling completely wonderful.”

The situation is comparatively unusual, however is extra prone to happen in older folks. 

In keeping with the Cleveland Clinic, NPH impacts bout 0.2% of individuals between the ages 70 and 80, and about 5.9% of these over 80.

“Getting immediate analysis and therapy helps enhance your probabilities of consequence,” Johns Hopkins notes on its web site.

Canceled Billy Joel tour dates

Here’s a full record of the canceled live shows:

• April 26, 2025: Milwaukee, American Household Subject (initially postponed)
• July 5, 2025: Pittsburgh, Acrisure Stadium
• July 18, 2025: Bronx, New York, Yankee Stadium
• Aug. 8, 2025: East Rutherford, New Jersey, MetLife Stadium
• Aug. 21, 2025: Queens, New York, Citi Subject
• Sept. 5, 2025: Washington, D.C., Nationals Park
• Sept. 20, 2025: Cincinnati, Paycor Stadium
• Oct. 4, 2025: Santa Clara, California, Levi’s Stadium
• Oct. 18, 2025: New Orleans, Superdome
• Nov. 1, 2025: Hollywood, Florida, Seminole Laborious Rock (rescheduled from Jan. 17, 2025)
• Nov. 15, 2025: Detroit, Ford Subject (rescheduled from March 29, 2025)
• March 14, 2026: Toronto, Rogers Middle (rescheduled from March 15, 2025)
• April 10, 2026: Syracuse, New York, JMA Wi-fi Dome (rescheduled from April 11, 2025)
• Could 22, 2026: Salt Lake Metropolis, Rice-Eccles Stadium (rescheduled from Could 23, 2025)
• June 6, 2026: Edinburgh, Scotland, Scottish Fuel Murrayfield (rescheduled from June 7, 2025)
• June 20, 2026: Liverpool, England, Anfield (rescheduled from June 21, 2025)
• July 3, 2026: Charlotte, North Carolina, Financial institution of America Stadium (rescheduled from Could 10, 2025)