Barry Manilow's heart 'broke' when he heard about Billy Joel's health crisis
Veteran crooner Barry Manilow has revealed he's "heartbroken" by Billy Joel's health crisis after the musician was diagnosed with a rare brain condition called Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH), which is caused by a build-up of fluid in the brain.
Barry Manilow's heart "broke" when he heard about Billy Joel's health crisis.
The veteran musician was forced to cancel all of his tour dates for the rest of the year after he was diagnosed with a rare brain condition called Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH), which is caused by a build-up of fluid in the brain, and now Manilow has admitted he feels terrible about seeing the Piano Man go through such a tough time.
He told Billboard: "Oh, it’s so horrible, so horrible. It just broke my heart when I heard about Billy Joel. I’m such a fan of his work. I really hope he’s able to get back to it."
Manilow went on to admit there aren't many of his contemporaries still performing. He said: "It’s like: ‘What? Am I the only one left?' It’s Billy Joel, and Elton [John] is not well and Rod [Stewart] and Neil [Diamond]. Diana Ross is still in great shape, I think.
"There must be only a handful of people in my world that are still there. "I’m still healthy. I’m strong and I’ve still got my voice and my energy. The night I can’t hit the F natural on Even Now, that’s the night I throw in the towel. But I can still do it."
Joel recently axed all of his tour dates - including 17 dates in North America and England - but reports suggest he has no plans to retire despite the diagnosis.
Announcing the news on social media, a statement from Joel's team read: "Billy Joel has announced that he will be cancelling all scheduled concerts following a recent diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH).
This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance.
"Under his doctor’s instructions, Billy is undergoing 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 prioritising his health.
"He is grateful for the support from fans during this time and looks forward to the day when he can once again take the stage."
Billy added his own message to fans, saying: "I’m sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding."
