Billy Joel will host his first-ever live call-in special on his SiriusXM The Billy Joel Channel on Thursday (Sept. 24). The exclusive opportunity to chat with the “Piano Man” singer will kick off at 2 p.m. ET and give listeners a chance to speak directly with the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, ask him questions and hear from Joel in real time.
Fans who want to join in and submit questions can do so now via video, voice or text here; you can also dial in to the live special by calling 1-844-365-BILLY.
The call-in will be the first chance for Joel’s followers to speak to him following a recent interview on his SiriusXM channel 93 in which he got candid about his diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus last year led to the unexpected revelation from his doctors that the intense volume at his shows was causing damage to his brain.
He described going to see a doctor after suffering from balance problems that made it feel like he was “on a boat,” after which his neurologist recommended implanting a shunt in his brain to relieve some of the intracranial pressure. Though he initially said he’d “pass” on the surgery that includes getting a hole drilled through his skull to implant the shunt, Joel said he read that it can improve your balance and help with memory.
The shunt proved helpful on all those accounts, but his doctors also informed him that he should consider not performing live anymore because the physical effects of playing loud rock shows could cause further damage to his brain. “I realized, and the doctors told me this, because of my job, which is playing rock ‘n’ roll music very loud, that it was giving me something like a concussion every time I did a show,” he said. “It was causing damage to my brain nerves and I could be losing more brain cells the more shows I did and I realized that means I shouldn’t be doing this right now.”
The call-in will mark the first time fans can ask Joel about the brain disorder that caused him to cancel his planned 2025 tour dates as he recovered from the condition that occurs when cerebrospinal fluid builds up inside the skull, pressing on the brain and affecting a number of abilities, including “thinking and concentration, memory, movement and more,” according to the Cleveland Clinic.
So, while he’s been laying low and doing physical therapy, Joel told his faithful, “don’t worry about me. I’m not going anywhere. I’m here. I’m still here.”
Joel’s last public appearance was at a March tribute fundraiser at Carnegie Hall featuring Rufus Wainwright, Matchbox Twenty’s Rob Thomas, Matt Nathanson, Train’s Pat Monahan, Wyclef Jean and Mary Chapin Carpenter that raised more than $225,000 to support music education.
The Billy Joel Channel will be available on satellite radios and through the SiriusXM app through Sept. 30.