Alexa Ray Joel and Billy Joel in 1988, Alexa Ray Joel and Billy Joel in 2011.
On May 24, Alexa Ray Joel—daughter of music legend Billy Joel—shared a deeply personal and emotional tribute on Instagram following her father’s recent health diagnosis.
Billy Joel, 76, revealed just a day earlier that he had been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), a neurological disorder involving the buildup of excess cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. The diagnosis prompted the “Piano Man” to cancel all upcoming concerts, stepping away from performing to prioritize recovery.
“SOUND UP We love you and we got you, Pop!” Alexa, 39, wrote alongside a heartfelt black-and-white illustration of a father holding his daughter’s hand.
She continued with gratitude for the outpouring of love from fans:
“My Dad is the strongest and most resilient man I’ve ever known … and he’s entirely committed to making a full recovery with ongoing physical-therapy treatments as he continues to regain his strength.”
To close her touching message, Alexa turned to the lyrics of one of Billy’s most sentimental songs, “Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)”:
“Someday we’ll all be gone / But lullabies go on and on / They never die / That’s how you and I will be.”
“The music continues… All my love, Alexa Ray.”
In an official statement obtained by PEOPLE and shared via social media, Billy’s team confirmed that recent performances had worsened his symptoms, leading to issues with hearing, vision, and balance. He is now undergoing medically supervised physical therapy and has been “advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period.”
Billy Joel, also father to daughters Della Rose, 9, and Remy Anne, 7, with wife Alexis Roderick, expressed his regret in having to disappoint fans but emphasized his focus on healing:
“I’m sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding.”
The announcement impacts scheduled concerts across multiple cities including New York City, New Orleans, Toronto, Santa Clara, Salt Lake City, Washington, D.C., and Liverpool. Ticket holders will be automatically refunded.
This marks another bump in Joel’s recent health timeline. Back in February, he suffered a fall during a performance at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, leading to postponed shows. In March, he officially delayed performances through June for ongoing treatment.
Despite health challenges, Joel’s legacy remains monumental. With five Grammy wins, 23 nominations, over 150 million records sold, and 33 Top 40 hits, he’s a titan of American music. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.
His historic 10-year Madison Square Garden residency wrapped in July 2024 with a milestone 150th performance at the iconic venue.
