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SALT LAKE CITY — Billy Joel fans will have to wait another year for the piano man's much anticipated Utah return.
The legendary rocker, 75, announced Tuesday he recently underwent surgery requiring physical therapy and medical supervision, which means he won't be playing with Sting at Rice-Eccles Stadium on May 23, as was announced last year.
"While I regret postponing any shows, my health must come first," Joel said, in a prepared statement posted to Instagram. "I look forward to getting back on stage and sharing the joy of live music with our amazing fans. Thank you for your understanding."
Live Nation Utah announced the show in September 2024 with an event that ended with Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham — a big Billy Joel fan — riding into Rice-Eccles Stadium on his motorcycle while a medley of songs played on the stadium speakers. It has since been advertised online, across many broadcast forms and even on TRAX cars.
The Utah concert has now been rescheduled for May 22, 2026, while many other U.S. and Europe shows announced last year have either been pushed back to the end of this year or will also take place in 2026.
Tuesday's post noted that all tickets purchased for all postponed shows "will automatically be valid for the rescheduled shows." It wasn't immediately clear if refunds would also be made available for those who purchased tickets.
Joel has performed in Utah 14 times since the 1970s, the last of which came in 2017. He's won five Grammys over his career and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.
