Billy Joel has cancelled his upcoming tour, including a date in Toronto, after the legendary singer was diagnosed with a brain disorder.
Joel, 76, announced on Friday that he has “normal pressure hydrocephalus” (NPH), a brain disorder in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain’s ventricles.
An Instagram post shared on Joel’s official account reads: “This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision, and balance. Under his doctors instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period.”
The post included a short statement from the Piano Man himself: “I’m sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding.”
Joel was originally set to perform at Rogers Centre in Toronto in March, but cancelled the show days before the tour date. Citing an undisclosed medical condition, Joel’s team announced that the show would be rescheduled for 2026. A statement added that Joel was expected to make a full recovery.
That rescheduled tour stop, along with 17 more shows set to take place in the U.S. and U.K., have now been cancelled.
The last time Joel performed in Toronto was on March 9, 2014 at Scotiabank Arena. Joel also performed at the OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls last winter.
In February, Joel fell on stage while performing in Connecticut. He appeared to quickly recover and was able to finish the show. It is unclear if his surgery was related to this incident.
Known for piano playing and his signature blend of pop and rock music, Joel ranks among the bestselling artists of all time.
His first album, “Cold Spring Harbor,” came out in 1971. Since then, he’s released a dozen more studio albums, seven live albums and 18 compilations album, and has sold more than 150 million records worldwide.
Today, Joel is best known for megahits such a “Piano Man,” “We Didn’t Start The Fire,” “Uptown Girl,” and “New York state of Mind.”
In July, Joel performed for the 150th time at Madison Square Garden in New York City, marking the most lifetime concerts at the storied venue by any artist.
