The Piano Man is taking a break from the keys — and for good reason. Hamptons homeowner Billy Joel is opening up about his health, revealing new details about his diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus, or NPH. The 77-year-old shared an update on his self-titled SiriusXM show, which returned for the month of September.

After noticing his balance was off and feeling a “rocky motion,” Joel initially brushed off a doctor’s recommendation for surgery. But after learning more about it, the musician ultimately went ahead with a procedure, which required surgeons to place a shunt in his brain.

“I had the surgery and they implanted a shunt in my brain. It actually improved things. My memory got better, my balance got a little better, my ability to function was better,” Joel revealed.

The hitmaker, who first made his diagnosis public in May 2025 and has canceled shows since, shared that doctors told him performing likely contributed to his symptoms.

“Because of my job, which is playing rock and roll music very loud, that it was giving me something like a concussion every time I did a show. It was causing damage to my brain nerves and I could be losing more brain cells the more I play, the more shows I did. And I realize, that means I shouldn’t be doing this right now,” Joel explained.

With a desire to “improve,” the native New Yorker said he’s keeping his stress down and doing physical therapy.