Billy Joel’s wife, Alexis Roderick Joel, is speaking out amid her husband’s recent brain disorder diagnosis.
“Thank you for the outpouring of love and support,” Alexis, 43, expressed gratitude through her husband’s official Instagram account on Monday, May 26. She highlighted the swift diagnosis and exceptional care they received while acknowledging the widespread affection for Bill, who is not just a music icon but also a cherished father and husband to their family.
The legendary singer, 76, known for hits like “Piano Man,” shared the news on Friday, May 23, via Instagram that he would be canceling all upcoming concerts due to being diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH).
Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a condition described by the Alzheimer’s Association as a brain disorder where an excess of cerebrospinal fluid builds up in the brain’s ventricles, which are fluid-filled chambers. This accumulation can lead to the enlargement of brain ventricles, causing disruptions and damage to surrounding brain tissue. The effects of NPH may result in challenges with walking, cognitive impairments, and loss of bladder control.
Billy’s team explained via Instagram that NPH has caused “problems with hearing, vision, and balance,” which impacted other recent live performances. His doctors have now recommended that Billy stop performing while he undergoes “specific physical therapy.” (Joel last performed at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut in February.)
In the same Monday statement, Alexis, who married the iconic singer in 2015 after six years of dating, wrote that the family is “hopeful” for Billy’s eventual recovery and overall health outcome. (The pair share two children, daughters Della Rose and Remy Anne.)
“We are hopeful for his recovery,” she wrote. “We look forward to seeing you all in the future.”
In the wake of his diagnosis, many famous friends and close family members, including his ex-wife Christie Brinkley and their daughter Alexa Ray, have offered their love and support to the famed performer.
“Dear Billy, The whole Brinkley gang is sending you lots of love and good wishes for a full and speedy recovery,” Brinkley, 71, wrote in an Instagram post shared on Saturday, May 24. “I was looking for some cute photos of you and Alexa to send you, when I came across this clip from a recent concert. It made me laugh… but it also reminded me of all the joy you create, and all the sensational sing a longs you’ve lead… you turn an arena of strangers into a living room full of friends as we all sway in unison.”
She continued, “I’m sure I’m speaking for everyone in that room when I say please take good care of yourself, we all want you back in that white hot spotlight, you’re OUR piano man. And we’re always in the mood for your melodies And we all hope you’re feeling alright!”
