Billy Joel performs at the Grammys for the first time in 22 years

The Grammys crowd was in the mood for a tune, and Billy Joel they had a good feeling.

The iconic musician, 74, took the stage at the 66th annual Grammy Awards, making his triumphant return to the awards show for the first time in 22 years. He performed his new single “Turn the Lights Back On,” which debuted earlier this month.

Before his performance, Joel described the making of the song with producer and co-writer Freddy Wexler. Wexler joked that he was “relentless” while trying to convince Joel to record the song, noting that Joel seemed reluctant to listen to him during their first lunch meeting – he ordered mussels on the half shell and a BLT to go with it to take.

After Taylor Swift accepted the final award of the night for Album of the Year, Joel returned for a second performance and performed “You May Be Right” from his 1980 album, Glass houses.

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Joel last performed at the Grammys in February 2002 when he joined the late band Tony Bennett for a duet on “New York State on Mind,” which originally appeared on Joel's 1976 album, Tourniquets. The duo was nominated that year for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals, but lost out Christina Aguilera, Little Kim, Mine And Pink for 'Lady Marmalade'.

Three days before this year's Grammys, Joel released “Turn the Lights Back On,” his first new music in 16 years. His most recent previous release is 2007's 'Christmas in Fallujah' Cass Dillon. His last studio album, Fantasies and delusionsdebuted in 2001.

In 2019, Joel revealed that he has never stopped writing, but simply isn't releasing his latest work. “I still write music. I just don't record it, and they're not in song form,” he shared Rolling stone at the time. “It's a completely different kind of music. It is purely for my own edification. I don't feel obligated to record it. I don't feel obliged to make myself relevant. Like I said, I was living the rock 'n' roll life, and I don't write that anymore.

He also said that he had not closed the door on making another full-length album. “I'm never going to say never,” he explained. “Maybe I'll come up with an idea that could become a song. Maybe I'll write a movie soundtrack. Maybe I'll write a symphony. Don't know. Everything is possible.”

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Although Joel hasn't recorded any new music in recent decades, he has never stopped touring and performing. Last year, Joel announced that his long-running residency at New York City's Madison Square Garden would come to an end in July following his 150th career concert at the famed arena.

“I'm a little stunned that it's taken this long,” Joel said at a press conference in June 2023. “My team tells me we can keep selling tickets, but 10 years, 150 shows – already good!”

Although Joel's MSG residency is coming to an end, a rep for the singer assured fans last year that the singer has no plans to retire anytime soon.