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Billy Joel’s daughter shares update on singer’s health amid rare brain disorder
Billy Joel’s daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, has revealed the steps he’s taking to improve his physical and mental health after he was diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder.
The music icon, 76, was diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) in May last year. The condition, which typically affects people over 60, is caused by excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulating in the brain’s ventricles, leading to increased pressure that compresses brain tissue and can result in neurological symptoms, such as balance issues.
Alexa Ray — who is Billy’s only child with his ex-wife Christie Brinkley — has now shared an update on her father’s recovery, describing how impressed she is by the work he’s put in.
“He’s doing physical therapy regularly and he’s doing great. He’s lost weight as he’s on his diet,” she said during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter published Thursday. “I’m so proud of him. He’s such a trooper, so resilient and committed to being healthy and proactive.”
“He’s a fighter. He’s always been a fighter and talks in his documentary about how life’s like a fight,” Alex Ray, 40, added, referring to the two-part HBO documentary, Billy Joel: And So It Goes, that was released in July.
Along with Alex Ray, Billy is the father of two young daughters, Della Rose, 10, and Remmy Anne, eight, whom he shares with his wife Alexis Roderick.
After receiving his NPH diagnosis in May, Billy Joel canceled all of the performances he had scheduled for the year. He was initially set to perform across the U.S. and at two dates in the U.K. in 2025.
“This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance,” a statement shared on his Instagram at the time read. “Under his doctor’s instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period.”
The “Uptown Girl” singer opened up about his brain disorder for the first time in July, leading up to the release of his documentary. During an interview with Bill Maher on his Club Random podcast, Billy said that while his condition wasn’t fixed, doctors were “working on it.”
“I feel fine,” he assured, though he confirmed his “balance sucks.” Asked by Maher what causes NPH, Billy replied: “They don’t know… I thought it must be from drinking.”
The five-time Grammy winner — who went to rehab twice due to his struggles with alcohol abuse and is now three years sober — reiterated that he feels “good.”
“They keep referring to what I have as a brain disorder, so it sounds a lot worse than what I’m feeling,” the “Piano Man” singer insisted.
Billy surprised fans in January with his first performance since he was diagnosed with the brain disorder. He crashed Billy Joel cover band Turnstile’s special New Year’s performance at the Village Amphitheater in Wellington, Florida.
Taking a seat at the piano, Billy performed renditions of his hit songs “We Didn’t Start the Fire” and “Big Shot.”
