Daughter of Billy Joel Shares First Health Update After Alarming Diagnosis
Report From Daughter on His Progress
Billy Joel is showing signs of recovery after his diagnosis of a rare brain disorder called normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), his daughter Alexa Ray Joel said in a new interview. The 76‑year‑old singer has been working on his health with regular physical therapy and has also been following a strict diet, his daughter told The Hollywood Reporter.
Alexa Ray, 40, said her father has lost weight and is keeping up with the exercise his doctors recommended. “He’s doing physical therapy regularly and he’s doing great,” she said. “He’s lost weight as he’s on his diet.”
She praised his attitude toward getting better in the interview 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.”
Family and Tribute Concert
Joel shares Alexa Ray with his ex‑wife, Christie Brinkley, and has two younger daughters, Della Rose and Remy Anne, with his current wife, Alexis Roderick.
The update came just hours before a tribute concert titled “The Music of Billy Joel” was held at Carnegie Hall on Thursday. Alexa Ray planned to surprise her father with her own performance at the event.
She said her father was especially happy to be back at the venue where he first performed in the 1970s. “He was so excited when he first played Carnegie Hall in the ‘70s, so it’s exciting for him to come back decades later and see amazing artists and his daughter pay tribute to him,” she said. “It’s a full‑circle moment.”
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Encouraging Him to Attend
Alexa Ray also talked about how she convinced her usually private father to attend the tribute show. “I said, ‘Dad, you better be there! This is Carnegie Hall. Everyone’s paying tribute to you, and it’s an amazing group of artists,’” she said. “He was like, ‘Let me mark that down.’ He’s very organized with his little calendar.”
Joel gave fans a rare public appearance in New York City hours before the concert. He was seen walking with a cane and spent some time near a hotel before the event began.
Health History and Public Statements
Joel first revealed his NPH diagnosis in May 2025, which forced him to cancel a series of tour dates. The condition, caused by fluid buildup in the brain, can affect balance, hearing and vision. Doctors advised him to stop performing while he focused on treatment.
In July 2025, he shared a message with fans to reassure them about his health. “It was scary, but I’m okay,” he told People at the time. “I just wanted to let people know, don’t worry about me being deathly ill or anything.”
Joel went on to make his first live performance since the diagnosis this January. At an event in Wellington, Florida, he played several of his hits while joined by his wife and children.
