Billy Joel is in a “New York state of mind.”
The 76-year-old singer waved to the audience from his first-floor seat at Carnegie Hall Thursday night, much to the delight of the sold-out crowd, who gave him a standing ovation.
The “Piano Man” singer was joined by songstress Pink and her daughter Willow Sage Hart, 14. A source said the two singers are friends.
The star-studded tribute was part of Music of’s 21st annual philanthropy, which raises funds for music education programs for underserved youth.
Performances included Rufus Wainwright, Itzhak Perlman, Wyclef Jean, Natalie Merchant, and Joel’s daughter Alexa Ray.
Pink attended the event as she is rumored to be taking over Kelly Clarkson’s talk show after moving to New York with her family.
The Grammy Award winner was spotted walking with a cane outside the Four Seasons Hotel before heading to Carnegie Hall.
Joel’s appearance at the Music of Billy Joel concert was especially meaningful as he was forced to cancel a number of gigs last year after he revealed in May 2025 that he had been diagnosed with NPH (normal pressure hydrocephalus, a treatable brain disease).
Two months later, Piano Man released a statement reassuring fans that he was fine.
“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.”
Earlier this year, the “Uptown Girl” crooner surprised fans with her first performance since revealing her battle with NPH brain disorder.
Alexa Ray, 40, his oldest daughter with ex-wife Christie Brinkley, said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday that her father is definitely on the road to recovery.
“He has regular physical therapy and is doing very well,” she revealed. “He has lost weight because he is on a diet.”
“I’m so proud of him,” the performer continued. “He’s such a warrior, so resilient, so committed to being healthy and active. He’s a fighter. He’s always been a fighter and he talks in the documentary about how life is like a battle.”
Alexa added that the iconic performance hall holds a special place in her father’s heart.
“He was so excited when he first performed at Carnegie Hall in the ’70s, so it’s so exciting for him to come back decades later and see such an amazing artist and his daughter pay tribute to him,” she explained. “It’s a full-circle moment.”
