If even Google can declare you dead, that's probably the most absurd death certificate of our time. On September 18, anyone searching "Billy Joel" would see an info card stating: "Died Sept. 17, 2026." The year was even off by one—the 77-year-old rock veteran was declared deceased ahead of schedule by the system.
The news exploded on social media instantly, until Joel's publicist Claire Mercuri stepped forward to clarify to Newsday: "Billy is not dead," she said. "I was just corresponding with him." As of now, Joel himself has not personally responded to the mix-up on social media.
This isn't the first time the "Piano Man" has been linked to health news, though this version is especially bizarre. Last year, he canceled his tour after being diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), a condition that affects hearing and balance. This January, he made his first public appearance since the diagnosis, performing in Florida alongside his own tribute band, Turnstiles. In March, his daughter Alexa Ray told The Hollywood Reporter that her father was "doing great," adding: "He's lost weight from watching his diet, and I'm so proud of him—he's a fighter, so resilient, and really proactive about his health."
Earlier this month, Joel himself announced the death of his longtime collaborator, music video director Jon Small. Their winding friendship was fully documented in last year's documentary And So It Goes.
Mistaken death reports haven't been isolated incidents in recent years. This past May, Bee Gees member Barry Gibb was also falsely rumored to have died on social media, with his family clarifying through TMZ that Gibb was "healthy, happy, and living well at his home in Miami." This time, it's Google's turn to slip up—just with a source that's even harder to explain away.
