'My Balance Sucks': Billy Joel Opens Up About Neurological Disorder Diagnosis

Earlier this year, music icon Billy Joel was diagnosed with the rare neurological disorder, normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH).

As a result of the diagnosis, which affects the Piano Man musician’s “hearing, vision, and balance,” Joel’s remaining tour dates for this year and 2026 were cancelled, including stadium shows with fellow music legends Rod Stewart, Sting, and Stevie Nicks.

The Cleveland Clinic notes that normal pressure hydrocephalus occurs when cerebrospinal fluid builds within the skull and presses on the brain. The condition can affect brain-related abilities, such as thought, concentration, memory, and movement.

In a recent episode of Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast, filmed at Joel’s home, the singer further opened up about living with the condition, saying that he feels “fine” but admitting that his balance “sucks.”

“It’s not fixed, it’s still being worked on,” Joel continued. “I feel fine. My balance sucks. It’s like being on a boat… They don’t really know what causes it. I thought it must be from drinking.

“They keep referring to what I have as a ‘brain disorder,’ so it sounds a lot worse than what I’m feeling.”

Joel’s health update can be seen around the three-minute mark of the video below.

The first part of a two-part documentary about Billy Joel, titled And So It Goes, premiered on HBO last Friday (18 July), with the follow-up set to air this Friday (25 July).

According to the documentary’s synopsis, And So It Goes will explore the “love, loss and personal struggles that fuel his storytelling” and feature “never-before-seen performances, home movies, personal photographs, and one-on-one interviews.”

Last year, Billy Joel released his first new song in 17 years, Turn The Lights Back On. The affecting music video recreated Joel performing throughout different stages of his career with AI, inspiring nostalgia and all sorts of emotions from his fans. He went back in time to revisit the Piano Man, Storm Front, and River Of Dreams eras.