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Billy Joel has returned to the stage for the first time since revealing his brain disease. DThe musician played a surprising two-song set with a Billy Joel cover band in a small-town amphitheater in Florida.
The “Piano Man” was in attendance as the town of Wellington, Florida – near one of Joel’s properties – celebrated its 30th anniversary on Friday. The Billy Joel cover band Turnstiles was booked for the anniversary event.
Joel himself joined the band on stage to perform “We Didn’t Start the Fire” and “Big Shot.”
Surprise appearance in Florida
“I wasn’t planning on working tonight,” Joel joked, according to a Palm Beach Post report. While Joel played the piano with Turnstiles, his daughters Della and Remy danced alongside him on stage.
The surprise appearance was Joel’s first stage appearance since May 2025. At that time, the singer announced his diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus disease and subsequently canceled all planned concerts; his last regular concert took place on February 22, 2025.
Illness and health break
“This condition was exacerbated by recent concert performances and resulted in hearing, vision and balance issues,” Joel’s team said in a statement at the time.
“As directed by his doctors, Billy is undergoing specialized physical therapy and has been instructed not to perform during this recovery period. Billy is grateful for the excellent medical care he is receiving and is committed to prioritizing his health.”