Billy Joel may have stepped away from the stage, but according to his ex-wife Christie Brinkley, he's doing just fine.
Nearly a year after the legendary singer was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus—a brain disorder that causes fluid buildup in the skull, affecting balance, hearing, and vision—Brinkley shared an uplifting update. Speaking at the City Harvest 2026 Benefit Gala in New York City, the model told Hello! Magazine, "He's doing very well."
The 76-year-old “Piano Man” has been surrounded by family throughout his health journey. He shares daughter Alexa Ray, 40, with Brinkley, as well as daughters Della Rose, 10, and Remy, 8, with wife Alexis Roderick. Alexa recently paid tribute to her father by performing his song “This Night” at a Carnegie Hall concert in March, a moment Brinkley called "so wonderful." She added, "She was so excited to be able to perform for him. I was sorry that I had to miss that night—I was out of town."
Joel first revealed his diagnosis in May 2024, canceling all tour dates—from a rescheduled April 2025 show to a July 2026 appearance—to focus on recovery. In a statement shared on Instagram, he said, "I'm sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding."
Two months later, he gave a health update on Bill Maher's Club Random podcast, admitting that while his balance was still off, he was improving. "It's not fixed. It's still being worked on," he said. "My balance sucks, it's like being on a boat. But 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."
With Brinkley's reassurances and family support, it seems the music icon is on the mend.