Billy Joel’s Daughter Gives Update on His Health Amid Reported Brain Disorder.
Billy Joel is as bright as ever, even while facing a brain condition, his daughter says. Alexa Ray Joel, 39, talked with Fox News Digital a few months after her dad revealed he has normal pressure hydrocephalus, a tricky brain disorder that he revealed late last year.
Despite what the diagnosis may sound like, the “Piano Man” star has not lost any mental edge, his daughter insists. “People were asking about cognitive decline, but I’m just not seeing that. He’s as on the ball as ever,” Alexa told the outlet last week.
Normal pressure hydrocephalus happens when excess fluid pressurizes brain spaces, causing trouble with thinking, walking, and even short-term memory, according to experts at the Cleveland Clinic. The surprising thing is most times the condition is reversible, especially when treatment starts quickly.
Alexa continued, explaining that her dad still recalls the cover art on his first album, the exact keyboards he played on “Uptown Girl,” and the story behind every song. “Sharp as a tack,” she said.
Alexa Ray shared how her dad has been looking after his health lately. He’s going to physical therapy a few times a week and has also changed what he eats.
“The other night at dinner I noticed he ordered chicken instead of the usual steak,” she told Fox News Digital. “I thought, ‘Wow, this is a whole new you!’ I’m really proud that he’s making these choices. Right now he’s actually taking better care of himself than he ever has.”
In May, Billy Joel first announced his brain disorder diagnosis. He decided to cancel all his upcoming concert dates because the condition “worsened after recent shows, affecting his hearing, vision, and balance.” The note added that he is now following a doctor-prescribed therapy plan and, under the doctor’s advice, is taking a break from performing while he heals.
Not long after Billy Joel broke the news about his health, radio legend Howard Stern filled in his listeners about a dinner the two had. He recalled that Billy appeared relaxed, reassuring everyone, “Yeah, tell ‘em I’m not dying. I just have some stuff to deal with.” Howard wanted fans to hear that the man behind the piano is sticking around, just managing a few medical hurdles.
Fast-forward to July when Joel dropped by Bill Maher’s “Club Random” podcast for a quick catch-up. The piano man said he’s “feeling fine” but admitted difficulty keeping his balance. “My balance sucks,” he joked. “It’s like being on a boat.” He chalked it up to doctors calling his condition a brain disorder, but he emphasized, “It sounds worse than what I’m feeling.” The takeaway? A grooving voice with a little extra sway.
In May, Billy’s daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, praised her dad on Instagram as the “strongest and most resilient man” she knows. She emphasized that he’s “entirely committed to making a full recovery” with physical therapy. The post echoed a simple but powerful message: the music will keep playing, and so will the man behind it.