Nearly a year after Billy Joel retired from touring due to normal pressure hydrocephalus, daughter Alexa Ray Joel reported strong progress from physical therapy and diet. He recently attended a tribute concert at Carnegie Hall.
Billy Joel retired from touring in May 2025 after a normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) diagnosis, prompted by an onstage collapse in February 2025. The condition, which impacts hearing, vision, and balance but is treatable, led to canceled shows.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, daughter Alexa Ray Joel shared an encouraging update: "He’s doing physical therapy regularly, and he’s doing great. He’s lost weight as he’s on his diet. I’m so proud of him. He’s such a trooper, so resilient and committed to being healthy and proactive. He’s a fighter."
Reflecting on the initial incident, she said, "When I saw the footage, I was crying. But then I went with him to the doctors, and we’re on top of everything."
Joel echoed optimism in a July 2025 Bill Maher interview, noting he felt fine despite balance issues "like being on a boat."
In January 2026, he made a brief stage return in Wellington, Florida, performing two songs with a cover band while using support.
Most recently, on a Thursday night, Joel attended a sold-out tribute concert at New York’s Carnegie Hall organized by Michael Dorf, inspired by the HBO docuseries And So It Goes. He did not perform; artists included Mary Chapin Carpenter, Natalie Merchant, Rufus Wainwright, and Alexa Ray Joel.
