Billy Joel Checks Into Substance Abuse, Psychiatric Hospital

NEW CANAAN, Conn. – The piano man's career has hit a sour note.

Billy Joel has checked into a substance abuse and psychiatric hospital for a "personal problem," according to a statement issued by Columbia Records.

The 53-year-old singer is staying at Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, Conn. His stay there was first reported in Wednesday's The Advocate of Stamford and was confirmed by Columbia Records.

"Billy Joel recently checked himself into Silver Hill Hospital for a planned 10-day stay to deal with a specific and personal problem that had recently developed," The Columbia statement said. "Joel scheduled his stay in Silver Hill several weeks ago and expects to leave the facility in a few days, as planned."

Joel, a resident of Long Island, N.Y., is receiving counseling at the facility's chemical dependency treatment center, an unnamed source told The Advocate.

Joel's publicist had no immediate comment for Fox News.

All of this is coming on the heels of reports that Joel was having some difficulty performing. A New York Times review recently said Joel babbled during a performance. And there was an auto accident in Long Island recently week that allegedly involved the singer.

Joel, whose hits include "Piano Man," "Just the Way You Are," "Only the Good Die Young" and "Uptown Girl," recently rescheduled concert tour dates with Elton John, saying he was ill.

According to Sony Entertainment's Billy Joel Web site, www.billyjoel.com, the singer-songwriter was placed under a doctor's supervision for acute laryngitis, inflamed vocal cords and an upper-respiratory infection.

Joel joins a long list of celebrities who have spent time at the psychiatric and substance abuse treatment center including pop star Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson, Liza Minnelli and Joan Kennedy.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.