Fans may soon see Billy Joel back in action. Despite doctors reportedly advising him that he could no longer perform, the 77-year-old music legend has announced plans to return to the stage in December. It will mark his first performance since undergoing brain surgery.
What Billy Joel revealed about his health and future
Joel announced the upcoming performance in an Instagram post on November 9. The Piano Man singer will appear at Florida Atlantic University on December 14. He will take part in an event called “Billy Joel for Billy Joel: An Evening of Questions & Answers…And a Little Music.” Tickets will be available exclusively to currently enrolled FAU students starting November 12.
The upcoming appearance will mark Joel’s first public appearance since his health update in September. The singer revealed that he had undergone brain surgery. He said at tha time, “It’s hard to tell what’s age and what’s a condition, so I agreed to do the shunt. I had a surgery, and they implanted a shunt in my brain — and it actually improved things.” He received a diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) in 2025.
Joel addressed his health concerns in an interview on October 15. He explained, “I have to take a series of tests before I know,” adding, “I can’t drive right now. I’m not allowed to drive.” However, he said he is hopeful that further assessments will help determine what lies ahead for him.
Joel also revealed that his neurologist had warned him about the physical toll of performing live. The doctor reportedly compared each show to sustaining a concussion. “What the neurologist told me, every time you do a show, it’s like you’re getting a concussion,” the singer explained. Joel also pointed to several aspects of performing that could affect his health. He further admitted that decades of rock performances had impacted his hearing.
