Billy Joel‘s daughter, Alexa Ray, has said he’s “doing great” following his brain disorder diagnosis last year.
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Last May, Joel cancelled all of his scheduled concert dates after revealing that he had been diagnosed with the brain disorder normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH).
Now, his daughter has revealed that he’s handling the diagnosis well. “He’s doing physical therapy regularly, and he’s doing great,” she told The Hollywood Reporter. “He’s lost weight as he’s on his diet. I’m so proud of him. He’s such a trooper, so resilient and committed to being healthy and proactive. He’s a fighter.”
Joel’s last full performance was in February 2025, when he collapsed onstage. “When I saw the footage, I was crying. But then I went with him to the doctors, and we’re on top of everything,” Alexa Ray said. “I just tell him to stay healthy.”
The disorder impacts Joel’s hearing, vision, and balance, making performing difficult. In a statement at the time he cancelled his tour, a representative for the musician said that the condition had been “exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance”.
“Under his doctor’s instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period,” the statement added. “Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritizing his health.”
Alexa Ray later said that her father was “entirely committed to making a full recovery with ongoing physical-therapy treatments as he continues to regain his strength”.
Joel later missed the premiere of his documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes at the Tribeca Film Festival in June, but he clarified that month that he was “not dying”.
His friend Howard Stern also told his radio listeners that “he’s doing fine” after having dinner with him. “He does have issues, but he said, ‘Yeah, you can tell people: I’m not dying’. You know, he wants people to know that,” Stern said.
In July, Joel appeared on Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast, saying that he feels “fine” but his “balance sucks”, likening it to “being on a boat”.
When Maher mentioned that Joel looks good despite the diagnosis, the singer responded: “I feel good. They keep referring to what I have as a brain disorder. It sounds a lot worse than what I’m feeling.”
In January, Joel appeared alongside his own tribute act to perform for the first time since his diagnosis.
The surprise appearance came alongside the Billy Joel cover band Turnstiles in Wellington, Florida, during a show which marked the town’s 30th anniversary.
Joel joined for two songs: ‘We Didn’t Start The Fire’ and ‘Big Shot’ – and was joined on stage by his daughters Della and Remy.
