“He’s got to deal with some medical stuff. But he was delightful… Billy’s doing okay,” radio host says after post-diagnosis dinner with Piano Man
Following his brain disorder diagnosis, Billy Joel offered a minor health update — “I’m not dying!” — via his friend and radio host Howard Stern.
On Tuesday’s episode, Stern revealed that following Joel’s health announcement, he had a post-diagnosis dinner with the Piano Man, during which Joel gave Stern a message to relay to his concerned audience.
“We had dinner together, it went fine,” Stern said. “[Joel] does have issues. But he said to me — so I’m not saying anything crazy — ‘Yeah, you can tell people: I’m not dying.’ He wants people to know that. He’s got to deal with some medical stuff. But he was delightful. We had a great time with the wives. Billy’s doing okay.”
In May, Joel canceled his entire touring schedule after revealing that he was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), a brain disorder where excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain’s ventricles.
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“This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision, and balance,” Joel’s team said in a statement. “Under his doctor’s instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period. Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritizing his health.”
While daughter Alexa Ray Joel and wife Alexis Roderick Joel have both commented on the Piano Man’s condition, Joel himself had not yet issued a personal statement since his diagnosis until having Stern deliver his message to fans Tuesday.
