Billy Joel, 75, delays tour because of a health problem and surgery, causing worry

Billy Joel is postponing his tour by four months ‘due to a medical condition.’ 

A statement posted to his Instagram reveals the tour has been halted after the Uptown Girl singer, 75, underwent a recent surgery. 

While the rescheduling sparked serious fan concern, the statement maintained Joel is expected to make a full recovery.  

‘The current tour will be postponed for four months to allow him to recover from recent surgery and to undergo physical therapy under the supervision of his doctors. Joel is expected to make a full recovery. The tour will resume at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on July 5, 2025,’ the post, uploaded Tuesday, read.

‘While I regret postponing any shows, my health must come first. I look forward to getting back on stage and sharing the joy of live music with our amazing fans. Thank you for your understanding,’ Joel said in the statement. 

The tour will resume in November, starting in Detroit where Joel is set to hit the stage with Fleetwood Mac legend Stevie Nicks.  

Tickets that have already been purchased will be ‘automatically valid’ at the upcoming rescheduled concerts. 

Billy Joel is postponing his tour by four months after undergoing a recent surgery

Joel announced the rescheduling in a statement posted to his Instagram on Tuesday 

The announcement comes several weeks after Joel suffered a fall on stage

Joel’s official website has yet to reflect the rescheduling, with his upcoming concert dates currently appearing as normal.

Following his Detroit show, the Piano Man singer will now be heading to Toronto on March 14, 2026, Syracuse on April 10, and Salt Lake City on May 22.

He will then travel across the pond for a concert in Edinburgh on June 6 followed by Liverpool on June 20.

Joel will then perform in Charlotte on July 3 before taking the stage in Milwaukee, however a date has yet to be solidified for the Wisconsin show. 

In the comments, numerous fans wished Joel a speedy recovery.

‘Take whatever time you need for you to heal,’ one wrote, adding a red heart emoji. ‘stay healthy. We need you around a long time.!’

‘Sending love and healing to @billyjoel !!’ another wrote. 

‘Speedy recovery. The comeback is always greater than the setback,’ one fan posted. 

‘Healing prayers for you Billy,’ one wrote with a smiling emoji.

It comes after Joel suffered a nasty fall on stage during a gig at the Mohegan Sun resort in Monteville, Connecticut in late February, sparking major fear amongst fans.

Footage from the show captures the Grammy winner spinning a microphone stand before hurling it across the stage—only to suddenly topple over moments later. 

The musician was helped up by his band managed to carry on with the rest of the show and sang one more song for his fans.

One attendee said: ‘He looked frail hobbling across the stage. At one point, he was using the microphone stand as a cane.

‘I was really very concerned about him throughout the concert.’

Meanwhile, fans flooded social media with shocked reactions, with one writing, ‘Oh my goodness, I hope he gets better.’

Photos of the unsettling fall capture Joel—dressed in an all-black suit and dress shoes—appearing to stumble before hitting the stage hard on his side, then rolling onto his back.

And the songwriter has never been one to shy away from discussing the realities of aging.

Joel seen performing in February 2025

In a conversation with BBC Radio 2 DJ Zoe Ball, he was asked whether he maintains a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise.

His candid response? ‘None of the above.

‘I don’t think I look all that good. But I don’t look in the mirror that often, which helps a lot. There’s a saying, “things don’t look half bad with one eye closed.”‘

Over the years, Joel has been open about his struggles with alcohol and substance abuse, as well as his battles with mental health, which at one point led to a suicide attempt amid career pressures.

Reflecting on what he’s most proud of, the legendary musician summed it up simply: ‘My ability to move on with life. I’ve had difficulties in my life, but it never stopped me from continuing. Troubles with business didn’t stop me from doing business. I have no bitterness about anything, even people who rip me off, I let it go. I’m content with that. I’m happy. I’m having a happy ending.’

Footage from the late February show captures the Grammy winner spinning a microphone stand before hurling it across the stage—only to suddenly topple over moments later

Billy’s illustrious career as a musician began back in the mid-1960, which led to the release of debut studio album, Cold Spring Harbor (1971).

But it failed to gain any real traction until after the success of his follow-up, Piano Man (1973), that peaked at number 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number four on the Adult Contemporary singles chart.

Now an established name on the musical landscape, Joel became a million seller with the release of Streetlife Serenade (1974), but his commercial breakout making him a bonafide star came with the release of The Stranger (1977), which featured the hit singles Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song), Just The Way You Are, She’s Always a Woman, The Stranger, and Only The Good Die Young.

He would go on to release a 13th album – Fantasies & Delusions (2001) – that features classical compositions from Joel, a first for him during his career.

With over 160 million records sold worldwide, Billy Joel is one of the world’s best-selling musical artists, and the fourth-best-selling solo artist in the United States.