Share and Follow
Billy Joel is stepping back into the spotlight—on his own terms.
Just under two months after announcing his diagnosis with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH), the 75-year-old musical icon has returned to engage in a frank discussion with Real Time host Bill Maher. They met at Joel’s residence in Florida for an extensive interview, which is scheduled to be released on Maher’s Club Random podcast this Monday.
When he was diagnosed, Joel had to call off all his planned performances and was also unable to make it to the June premiere of his new HBO documentary, And So It Goes, at the Tribeca Festival. The documentary airs in two parts, with Part One debuting on Friday night, and Part Two following up on Friday, July 25.
NPH is a neurological disorder caused by an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain’s ventricles, resulting in symptoms such as difficulty walking, memory issues, and bladder control problems. Although it is frequently misdiagnosed, surgical procedures can occasionally provide treatment for NPH.
Despite the health challenges, Joel appeared sharp and introspective in a preview clip posted to Maher’s X (formerly Twitter) account, opening up about the deeply personal inspirations behind some of his most iconic songs.
“I don’t want to tell you a story. I want to tell you my story,” the “My Life” songwriter says from behind his piano.
Joel reminisces about writing “Just the Way You Are” for his first love, crafting “Uptown Girl” about his second wife Christie Brinkley, and penning “She’s Always a Woman” about a complex woman from early in his career.
“She’s always a woman to me. Hello?” Joel quips in the clip.
The conversation also touches on some of Joel’s more provocative work, including his 1977 hit “Only the Good Die Young,” which raised eyebrows for its references to Catholicism and sexuality.
“I’m tipping over sacred cows all my life. I like to do that,” Joel says with a smirk.
He also opens up about his passion for classical music, explaining how it offers a kind of emotional and mental escape.
“It’s just music. And it can take me away somewhere else, completely. I get stoned from it. I literally get carried away listening to beautiful music,” Joel adds.
The full Club Random interview drops Monday, just ahead of And So It Goes’ debut on HBO.
(function(d, s, id) {
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) return;
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&appId=823934954307605&version=v2.8”;
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));
