Billy Joel Assured Fan Asking About Brain Disorder ‘I’m OK’ During SiriusXM Call-In Special: ‘Sounds a Lot Worse Than It Actually Is’

During his inaugural live call-in special on SiriusXM's Billy Joel Channel on September 24, the "Piano Man" himself, Billy Joel, shared insights about his battle with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH). The 77-year-old musician, who had been struggling with balance issues and some hearing loss, assured a fan from Texas named Mary that his condition was "not that bad" and that he was "OK".

Joel explained that NPH, a brain disorder he was diagnosed with last year, is often misunderstood and sounded more severe than it is. He humorously mentioned his reluctance to undergo brain surgery for the condition, recalling the procedure involved "drilling a hole through your skull and shoving a drain into your brain to drain off excess fluid." However, after thorough research, he decided to go ahead with the surgery and reported that it helped improve his cognition, hearing and balance.

Despite his diagnosis, Joel remained upbeat and engaged with fans, reminiscing about his iconic song "Captain Jack" and recounting the story behind its creation. The song, he said, was inspired by watching drug deals unfold from his Oyster Bay, Long Island apartment. Joel also discussed his admiration for musicians like John Lennon and Steve Winwood, expressing his desire to have performed with the latter live despite only collaborating on a studio recording.

The call-in special provided fans their first opportunity to inquire about Joel's NPH, prompting the singer to share his personal experience with the condition.