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In an unexpected treat for fans, Billy Joel joined a tribute band on stage in Florida, delivering an exhilarating performance of two classic hits on Friday night.
In Palm Beach, Fla., the legendary musician made his first public appearance since sharing his diagnosis of a rare neurological condition. The 76-year-old was diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, a disorder frequently found in individuals over 65, back in May.
Joel took the spotlight with the cover band Turnstiles, treating the audience to spirited renditions of his iconic songs, “Big Shot” and “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” Seated at the piano, he sang passionately while his wife, Alexis Roderick, and their daughters, Della and Remy, joyfully danced along to the music.
According to the Palm Beach Post, Joel was seen wearing a winter jacket and black cap, and he used a cane to walk as he made his way on stage.
The Palm Beach Post said he wore a winter jacket, a black cap and used a cane to walk.
“I wasn’t planning on working tonight,” Joel told the crowd who cheered.
The Grammy-winning singer performed for about 12 minutes alongside the Turnstiles, who named their band after Joel’s 1976 album.
The surprise performance came a few months after Joel canceled his upcoming concerts due to his health.
“I’m sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding,” Joel said in a statement at the time.
According to Joel’s post in May, his condition has been worsened by recent concert performances, which led to issues with hearing, vision and balance. Under doctors’ orders, he’s undergoing physical therapy and has been told to stop performing during this recovery period.
In July he told comedian Bill Maher his condition was “still being worked on.”
“I feel fine,” Joel said in the interview. “My balance sucks. It’s like being on a boat.”
He added how he believed the balance issues stemmed from drinking, noting that he used to “drink like a fish.”
“I feel good. They keep referring to what I have as a brain disorder, so it sounds a lot worse than what I’m feeling,” Joel said.
What is Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH)?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a condition that happens when cerebrospinal fluid builds up inside your skull and presses on your brain. The condition is most likely in people over the age of 65.
The Cleveland Clinic noted the symptoms look very similar to dementia, but NPH is often treatable and sometimes even reversible.
While more than 700,000 Americans have NPH, less than 20% are properly diagnosed, according to Yale Medicine.
