Billy Joel gave fans a shock and a thrill when he turned up to a town celebration and played two of his hit songs, as reported by TMZ.
The 76-year-old entertainer – who announced on May 23 that he was canceling all concerts after being diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus [NPH] – got up on stage at the Wellington Amphitheater in Florida to help the city celebrate its 30th anniversary.
The community festival featured live music, fireworks and the legendary music icon himself, who joined the tribute band The Turnstiles to sing We Didn’t Start the Fire and Big Shot.
Joel, who owns property in the area, belted out the songs with the help of a cane.
His wife Alexis Roderick, 43, and their two daughters, Della Rose, 10, and Remy Anne, 8, were also on hand for the entertainment.
The Piano Man – who previously revealed he’s been forgetting lyrics for a decade – didn’t miss a beat as his kids danced with a friend while the crowd cheered enthusiastically.
Billy Joel gave fans a shock and a thrill when he turned up to a town celebration in Wellington, Florida and played two of his hit songs
The 76-year-old entertainer – who announced on May 23 that he was canceling all concerts after being diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus [NPH] – got up on stage at the Wellington Amphitheater in Florida to help the city celebrate its 30th anniversary
Earlier in the evening, the crowd tuned in when The Turnstiles, led by Tony Monaco, hinted there might be a special guest that evening, and then the legendary singer made his way on stage and joined them on the keyboard.
An eyewitness told the outlet that Joel asked for permission to steal the mic, and the audience roared as he launched into his two-song special.
This was Joel’s first public appearance on stage since announcing his devastating diagnosis in May 2025.
NHP is a brain disorder that causes fluid buildup and affects function. Common symptoms include problems with walking and balance, memory loss and difficulty with planning, organizing and multitasking, per the Cleveland Clinic. Vision issues and hearing loss can also occur.
Joel opened up about his diagnosis that forced him to cancel all his concerts through 2026.
‘I know a lot of people are worried about me and my health, but I’m okay,’ he told People in July. ‘What I have is something very few people know about, including me, no matter how much you try to research it.
‘I’m doing my best to work with it and to recover from it,’ he added.
He said he suspected something was wrong with him earlier this year when his balance was off kilter. ‘It was like being on a boat all the time,’ he added.
Joel played on the keyboard and sang We Didn’t Start the Fire and Big Shot while his wife Alexis Roderick looked on and their daughters Della Rose, 10, and Remy Anne, 8, danced
The music icon has found late-in-life happiness with Roderick and their girls; pictured on February 4, 2024 in Los Angeles
Joel has a fan in former President Bill Clinton, who popped by to say hello at the crooner’s last show of his residency at Madison Square Garden on July 25, 2024 in New York City
The surprise concert comes just months after the release of his HBO documentary, Billy Joel: And So It Goes, in which he admitted he was ‘devastated’ by his split from Christie Brinkley.
Joel was married to the supermodel between 1985 and 1994, and he loved the first few years of their romance.
‘Here I am dating this beautiful supermodel and … me? I’m from Hicksville. What am I doing with her? What’s she doing with me? But that was a very productive time for me. I wrote a lot of songs for her. She was a muse,’ he said in the film.
‘It was like being a teenager all over again. Experiencing those same emotions that I had when I was first discovering romance and love.’
Joel remembers the first few years of their romance being ‘so much fun.’
However, he admits that his music career and the stresses of fame took a toll on their relationship.
He said: ‘I was in a relationship with someone who I cared deeply about. But I was not able to be at home. I was not able to be with my family. It was a very sad time for me.
‘I realized love is not concrete. You feel like it is, but there are things eating away at it. And in the end, it all catches up. It’s hard. I was so devastated.’
The Uptown Girl singer said in his recently released HBO documentary that he was ‘devastated’ by his split from model Christie Brinkley; pictured in 1990
Joel has called fourth wife Roderick his saving grace for bringing stability to his life; pictured on July 18, 2018 in New York City
Joel and Brinkley share one daughter together, singer and pianist Alexa Ray Joel, 40.
The Longest Time crooner went on to marry chef and critic Katie Lee in 2004 but they divorced in 2009.
Joel has been married to current wife Roderick since 2015.
In his HBO documentary, Joel referred to her as his saving grace for the stability she brings to his life.
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