Billy Joel gave fans in Wellington, Florida, a surprise performance Friday, marking his first public appearance since announcing he has a brain disorder.
Joel, 76, performed a two-song set at the Wellington Amphitheater alongside Turnstiles, a Billy Joel tribute band, during the venue’s 30th anniversary celebration. Joel was joined onstage by his wife, Alexis Roderick, and their two daughters, Della and Remy.
Before performing, Joel asked for permission to use the microphone and then played “We Didn’t Start the Fire” and “Big Shot,” while his daughters danced nearby. The tribute band had hinted to the audience that a special guest would appear, according to TMZ.
“I wasn’t planning on working tonight,” Joel told the crowd, according to the Palm Beach Post.
The performance was Joel’s first since he disclosed in May 2025 that he has normal pressure hydrocephalus, a brain disorder. Following the announcement, he canceled all scheduled concerts to begin physical therapy. His last full concert was in February 2025.
Normal pressure hydrocephalus occurs when cerebrospinal fluid builds up in the skull, putting pressure on the brain, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The condition can affect memory, balance, movement and thinking, and is often treated with a surgically implanted shunt to drain excess fluid.
In a July interview on Bill Maher’s “Club Random” podcast, Joel said he was feeling “okay” but that the condition was ongoing. “It’s not fixed,” Joel said. “It’s still being worked on.”
Sitting at the piano, Joel said, “I feel fine. My balance sucks. It’s like being on a boat. It used to be called ‘water on the brain.’ Now it’s called normal pressure hydrocephalus.”
