Billy Joel is on the mend after a “horrifying” battle with the rare brain disease normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH).
“He has regular physical therapy and is doing very well,” Joel’s daughter Alexa Ray told The Hollywood Reporter in an interview published Thursday. “He has lost weight because he is on a diet.”
She added, “I’m so proud of him. He’s so brave, so resilient, so committed to being healthy and active. He’s a fighter. He’s always been a fighter, and he talks about how life is like a battle in the documentary.”
The “Piano Man” singer, 76, shares ex-wife Christie Brinkley with Alexa Ray, 40. He and his current wife, Alexis Roderick, have daughters Della Rose, 10, and Remy Anne, 8.
Alexa Ray’s interview with THR took place hours before her father was honored at Carnegie Hall’s “The Music of Billy Joel” memorial event on Thursday night.
The star-studded fundraiser had previously announced a handful of celebrities, including Rob Thomas, Wyclef Jean and Gavin DeGraw, but Alexa Ray said she planned to surprise her beloved father with a special performance of her own.
“He was so excited when he first performed at Carnegie Hall in the ’70s, so it’s so exciting to come back decades later and see such great artists and daughters pay tribute to him,” she said. “It’s a full-circle moment.”
The “Uptown Girl” singer’s eldest daughter also revealed that she was the one who convinced him to attend the special event in the first place.
“I said, ‘Dad, you should be there! This is Carnegie Hall. Everybody respects you and it’s a great group of artists,'” Alexa Rae said of her “Homebody” father.
She added, “He was like, ‘Let me write that down.'” He keeps a small calendar very neatly. ”
Meanwhile, the “New York State of Mind” singer was spotted heading out to the Big Apple on Thursday afternoon, hours before “The Music of Billy Joel” event began.
During his rare outing, he was seen walking with a cane, killing time at the nearby Four Seasons Hotel before heading to Carnegie Hall.
Last year, Joel was forced to cancel a series of tour performances after announcing his shocking NPH diagnosis in May 2025.
However, he released another statement in July 2025, reassuring fans that he remains strong and positive about the future despite his surprising diagnosis.
“It was scary, but I’m okay,” Joel told People magazine at the time. “I just wanted to let people know. I don’t have to worry about a deadly disease or anything like that.”
Most recently, the “Movin’ Out” hitmaker surprised fans with his first performance since revealing his battle with NPH brain disorder.
Back in January, Joel took to the stage at Wellington, Florida’s 30th anniversary celebration.
He was joined by his wife and two daughters to perform his hits “We Didn’t Start the Fire” and “Big Shot.”
“I wasn’t planning on working tonight,” joked Joel, walking to his keyboard with the aid of a cane.
