Billy Joel postpones Madison Square Garden concert due to ‘viral infection’

A “disappointed” Billy Joel has postponed his upcoming concert at Madison Square Garden while he recovers from a lingering illness.

On Sunday, the New York music venue announced that Joel’s next show has been rescheduled from Monday to June 2. Joel was slated to perform at the Garden next week as part of his ongoing monthly residency at the famed arena.

“I’m disappointed to share that I’m under doctor’s orders for vocal rest due to a viral infection,” Joel said in a statement shared on social media.

“I’m so sorry to let you know so close to show day, but I was hoping to be closer to a full recovery by now. Sadly, that hasn’t happened. I look forward to seeing you in the New Year.”

The piano man is set to resume the concert series as planned on Jan. 13. In between his New York shows, Joel is scheduled to tour the United States with Stevie Nicks in 2023. The “Uptown Girl” hitmaker and the Fleetwood Mac singer are slated to launch their joint Two Icons One Night tour at Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium on March 10.

On its website, Madison Square Garden assured Joel fans that their tickets for Monday’s show will be automatically transferred to June 2 and will not need to be exchanged. Any ticket-holders who cannot make the new date and want their money back must request a refund within the next seven days — otherwise their tickets will automatically be transferred to the new date without the option for a refund.

According to the Garden website, customers who bought their tickets via Ticketmaster can obtain a refund by visiting their Ticketmaster account page, while those who purchased their tickets through the Garden’s box office can call the guest relations department at (212) 465-6225. The site also warned fans that the June 2 concert date could be subject to change depending on the New York Knicks and Rangers playoff schedules.