NEED TO KNOW
- Alexis Roderick Joel is speaking out after her husband, Billy Joel, revealed his normal pressure hydrocephalus diagnosis last week
- “Thank you for the outpouring of love and support,” she wrote on Instagram
- Alongside his initial announcement, the “Piano Man” icon canceled all his scheduled concerts
Alexis Roderick Joel appreciates fans’ support for her husband, Billy Joel.
The “Piano Man” icon, 76, shared news of his normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) diagnosis last week and announced all his scheduled concerts are now canceled. On Monday, May 26, Alexis shared a statement through Billy’s Instagram about his condition and recovery.
“Thank you for the outpouring of love and support,” she began alongside a photo of herself with Billy and their daughters Della, 9, and Remy, 7. “We are so grateful for the wonderful care and swift diagnosis we received.”
Alexis, 43, continued, “Bill is beloved by so many, and to us, he is a father and husband who is at the center of our world.”
“We are hopeful for his recovery,” she stated. “We look forward to seeing you all in the future.”
Billy’s diagnosis of of normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), a condition where excess cerebrospinal fluid builds up in the brain ventricles, was announced Friday, May 23 in a note on his Instagram.
According to the statement, his health condition has been made worse by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision, and balance.
The “Uptown Girl” artist is undergoing specific physical therapy under his doctor’s instructions, and he’s been “advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period.”
The statement noted that Billy is “thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritizing his health. He is grateful for the support from fans during this time and looks forward to the day when he can once again take the stage.”
He told fans, “I’m sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding.”
The cancellation comes after Billy fell during a concert at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut in February. One month later, he announced the postponement of his concerts through June, citing a “medical condition” that required him to “undergo physical therapy under the supervision of his doctors.”
Following the announcement, his daughter Alexa Ray Joel, shared with ex-wife Christie Brinkley, honored Billy with her own tribute to him. She posted a black-and-white image of artwork portraying a dad holding his young daughter’s hand and wrote, “We love you and we got you, Pop!”
“The genuine care, empathy, and concern from everyone means so much to him … it means a lot to me, too,” Alexa, 39, added, concluding her caption with lyrics from “Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)” — a song Billy wrote for her on his 1993 album River of Dreams.
Brinkley, 71, shared her own statement to Instagram on Saturday, May 24. “The whole Brinkley gang is sending you lots of love and good wishes for a full and speedy recovery,” she wrote.
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