Billy Joel Reveals His Biggest Challenge Amid Brain Disorder: ‘It’s Like Being On A Boat’

Billy Joel is opening up about the health struggle that brought his tour to a halt, describing the symptoms as feeling “like being on a boat.”

The condition ultimately led him to cancel his shows, with his final performance taking place on February 22 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut.

Billy Joel was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, a buildup of spinal fluid in the brain that can impact hearing, vision, and balance.

Joel spoke candidly on Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast about the brain condition that has disrupted his life, admitting that balance has been his biggest challenge.

The music icon joked in the interview that “My balance sucks.” He then further explained that it felt “like being on a boat,” though he stressed that he otherwise feels fine.

He revealed doctors are unsure what caused the condition, but joked that he once suspected his past drinking habits might be to blame. “I used to drink like a fish,” Joel said, adding that he is now sober.

According to RadarOnline, the singer’s diagnosis is normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), and without treatment, the condition can worsen and may even be fatal.

Per MedlinePlus, in some cases, surgery to insert a tube that drains excess fluid from the brain is recommended, with those experiencing milder symptoms often having the best recovery outcomes.

Despite his seeming levity, Joel has been forced to step away from touring after the brain condition began affecting his ability to perform.

The Blast shared that in May, Joel’s team confirmed the diagnosis and revealed the impact it has had on the performer’s hearing, vision, and overall coordination. All his concerts across North America and the U.K. were canceled.

“This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision, and balance,” his team said in a statement. 

They revealed that Joel is in a targeted physical therapy program and has been told to avoid performing while he recovers. The statement expressed gratitude to fans for their support and care, adding his eagerness to return to them and the stage.

As Joel navigates his brain condition, one familiar face from his past is quietly standing by him: his first wife, Elizabeth Weber.

The Blast reported that while the two ended their nearly decade-long marriage in 1982, Weber says her support remains strong, though it is given from a respectful distance, as Joel now has a wife and children by his side.

Weber explained that communication between them is open when needed, but she emphasizes that Joel’s immediate family is at the center of his care. She also noted the positive role their grandchildren play in keeping him company during this period.

Despite more than 40 years since their split, Weber says the two maintain a friendly connection, strengthened by Joel’s close relationship with her son, Sean.

While taking time off to focus on his health, Joel is also setting the record straight on one of the longest-running rumors about his past. The Blast noted that in HBO’s two-part documentary, “Billy Joel: And So It Goes,” the “Piano Man” addresses speculation that he has racked up multiple DUIs over the years.

ICYMI, Joel was reportedly involved in a series of high-profile car accidents in the early 2000s, but he says alcohol was never a factor. “There’s this rumor that I have all these DUIs. That never happened.

But people keep repeating the myth. ‘Oh, he’s got so many DUIs.’ I never had a DUI. So f-ck you,” he stated emphatically. 

Joel explains that the crashes were tied to a difficult period in his life. He recalls the lingering emotional toll of 9/11 and a painful heartbreak that left him struggling to stay grounded.

Joel’s life story was told unfiltered in the HBO documentary directed by Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin. The film does not just address years of tabloid speculation; it dives into his most personal and difficult chapters. 

Viewers see him open up about living with depression, battles with substance use, past suicide attempts, and the complicated relationship he has had with fame.

The documentary also examines his family history, including his mother’s struggle with alcoholism and the financial hardships that shaped his early years.

Through interviews with those closest to him, like his daughter Alexa Ray Joel, his sister Judy, and longtime stage designer Steve Cohen, the film offers an intimate portrait of the man behind the music.

Here is hoping Billy Joel gets the treatment he needs so he can get back to doing what he loves most, playing for his fans.