Fans hoping to hear music legend Billy Joel perform at Salt Lake City’s Rice-Eccles Stadium may be indefinitely disappointed, after the singer-songwriter canceled all shows on his itinerary because of health reasons.
Joel, 76, has canceled all upcoming shows because of a recent diagnosis of a brain disorder, normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), the magazine Rolling Stone reported Friday.
“This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision, and balance,” a statement from Joel’s management reads, according to Rolling Stone.
The statement continued: “Under his doctor’s instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period. Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritizing his health.”
In the statement, Joel said, “I’m sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding.”
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Jason Farrell, President of Live Nation Utah, announces the upcoming concert with Billy Joel and Sting at Rice-Eccles Stadium in May, during a news conference on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024.
No announcement has been made yet about how ticket buyers can get refunds.
Last September, officials at the University of Utah announced, with much fanfare, that Joel and the rocker Sting would co-headline a show at Rice-Eccles Stadium, scheduled for this Friday, May 23. The announcement brought out University of Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham, who wore a “Piano Man” T-shirt in Joel’s honor.
In March, Joel announced that the Rice-Eccles show would be postponed for one year, to May 22, 2026. He cited an unnamed “medical condition” for postponing eight concerts, including the Salt Lake City stop. Now the 2026 concert is in doubt, along with 16 other performances across North America and England.
