Watch: Billy Joel Cancels All Tour Dates After Brain Disorder Diagnosis
Billy Joeldoesn’t need you to worry for him ’cause he’s alright.
That’s according to his ex-wife Christie Brinkley, who gave an update on the “My Life” singer’s health nearly one year after he was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, a type of brain disorder.
While attending the City Harvest 2026 Benefit Gala in New York City on April 23, the model told Hello! Magazine, “He’s doing very well.”
It may be largely due in part to the support from Billy’s family, who has been by his side through the medical ordeal. The Grammy winner shares Alexa Ray, 40, with Christie—with whom he was married to from 1985-1994—as well as Della Rose, 10, and Remy, 8, with wife Alexis Roderick.
In fact, Alexa recently honored her father by singing his song “This Night” at a tribute concert for him—and Christie said it couldn’t have been a better moment.
“She was so excited to be able to perform for him,” the 72-year-old said of the event, which took place at Carnegie Hall in March. “I was sorry that I had to miss that night.”
“I was out of town,” Christie—also mom to Jack Brinkley-Cook, 30, and Sailor Brinkley-Cook, 27—added, “but otherwise it was so wonderful.”
Billy, 76, first revealed he had been diagnosed with the disorder, which causes fluid to build up inside the skull, impacting a person’s hearing, balance and vision, last May.
At the time, the “Piano Man” musician said he was canceling the rest of his shows—ranging from a rescheduled April 2025 date to a July 2026 appearance—so he could focus on his recovery.
“I’m sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience,” Billy said in a press release shared to his Instagram, “and thank you for understanding.”
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images; Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for City Harvest
Two months later, he provided an update on his health, admitting that he was still struggling to regain his balance but was trending in an upwards direction.
“It’s not fixed,” Billy said while appearing on a July 2025 episode of Bill Maher’sClub Random podcast. “It’s still being worked on.”
“My balance sucks, it’s like being on a boat,” he continued, before adding, “I feel good. They keep referring to what I have as a brain disorder, so it sounds a lot worse than what I’m feeling.”
Billy isn’t the only celebrity who has publicly gone through a health scare. Keep reading for more stars who have candidly detailed their past medical emergencies…
Jason Mendez/Getty Images
Jason LaVeris/WireImage
Instagram/Suki Waterhouse
Paul Zimmerman/Shutterstock
Steph Chambers/NWSL via Getty Images
Chris Haston/WBTV via Getty Images
Photo by David Becker/Getty Images
Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images
Instagram / Christy Carlson Romano
Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images
Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images
Instagram / Justin Bieber
Joe Maher/Getty Images
Trae Patton/NBCU Photo Bank
ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images
Chris Haston/WBTV via Getty Images
Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Vanity Fair
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
