Iconic musician Billy Joel unveiled his celebrated documentary in a glamorous event, filled with A-list celebrities.
Billy Joels spectacular career took an unexpected turn as he missed the premiere of his documentary due to a recent health diagnosis. The legendary pianist, now 76 years old, was supposed to walk the red carpet at the Tribeca Festival on June 4th, but circumstances prevented him from doing so.
The documentary, titled Billy Joel: And So It Goes, was directed by Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin. The film chronicles Joel's extraordinary journey from his humble beginnings on Long Island to the pinnacle of international stardom. It features never-before-seen archival footage and candid interviews, painting a vivid picture of the life of the Piano Man hitmaker.
While Joel was unable to attend the Beacon Theatre in New York City due to his health struggles, other noteworthy figures like Mariska Hargitay, her husband Peter Hermann, Robert De Niro, Tom Hanks, and Whoopi Goldberg graced the event instead.
It appears that the Vienna musician has been diagnosed with a condition known as normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), which causes an excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain's ventricles[1][4]. This diagnosis has resulted in the cancellation of all of Joels upcoming concert dates[2][3][5].
Unfortunately, this means that his upcoming concert dates, which were scheduled to run until early July 2026[2][3][5], will not be happening. Joel is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised by his doctor to refrain from performing during his recovery period[1][4].
Fans who had purchased tickets for the canceled performances will receive automatic refunds[3]. Joel himself, in a message to his fans, expressed his gratitude for their support and jokingly acknowledged the challenges of aging, stating, "Getting old sucks, but it's still preferable to getting cremated"[4]. His team has assured fans that he is focused on prioritizing his health and looks forward to returning to the stage when possible[4][5].
Joels wife, Alexis Roderick Joel, also shared a statement expressing gratitude for the care and support their family has received[5]. Despite the setback, the directors of Joels documentary are optimistic that he will return to performing[4].
The legendary pianist Billy Joel was scheduled to attend the premiere of his documentary, Billy Joel: And So It Goes, but his recent health diagnosis prevented him from doing so. The documentary chronicles Joel's journey from his humble beginnings to international stardom, featuring never-seen archival footage and interviews.
At the premiere, Mariska Hargitay, Peter Hermann, Robert De Niro, Tom Hanks, and Whoopi Goldberg were among those who graced the event instead. Joel has been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), a condition causing excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, resulting in the cancellation of all his upcoming concert dates.
Fans who purchased tickets for the canceled performances will receive automatic refunds. In a message to his fans, Joel expressed gratitude for their support and joked about the challenges of aging, stating, "Getting old sucks, but it's still preferable to getting cremated." Joel's wife, Alexis Roderick Joel, also expressed gratitude for the care and support their family has received. The directors of Joel's documentary are optimistic that he will return to performing.
Despite this setback, the world of health and wellness, entertainment, celebrities, pop-culture, and national science will continue to monitor Joel's health and recovery progress, anticipating his return to the stage in the future. The pti (Piano Teachers Forum International) also extends its wishes for a quick and full recovery to the acclaimed musician.
