The full artist lineup for the Music of Billy Joel benefit concert has been unveiled. Returning to the iconic stage of Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium on March 12, the 21st annual presentation of storied promoter Michael Dorf’s Music Of tribute series will salute the icon and raise funds for music education programs with a cast including Rufus Wainwright, The War and Treaty, Bettye LaVette, Joy Oladokun, Tanya Tucker, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Gavin DeGraw, Matt Nathanson, Alexa Ray Joel, O.A.R.’s Marc Roberge, Matchbox 20’s Rob Thomas and Train’s Pat Monahan, with more artists to be announced as the event approaches.
After 2025’s star-studded Patti Smith tribute, which included appearances from Bruce Springsteen, Michael Stipe, Karen O and Smith herself, 2026’s Music Of benefit concert marked the first time that the event sold out before any performers were announced. Since 2004, the annual tradition has raised more than $2 million to facilitate music education for underserved communities in New York and beyond. Previous honorees in the series have included Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, Prince, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, David Bowie, R.E.M. and Crosby, Stills & Nash.
Joel has been away from the stage since he announced his diagnosis with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus in May, and as such has not been announced as a performer at the event. That said, Smith wasn’t initially slated to join in this year’s concert, and the house band for next year is Joel’s own live band, including bandleader David Rosenthal, Mark Rivera, Crystal Taliefero, Tommy Byrnes, Andy Cichon, Chuck Burgi, Carl Fischer, and Mike Delguidice.
Learn more about the Music of Billy Joel benefit concert at carnegiehall.org.
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