Billy Joel‘s wife, Alexis Roderick Joel, has spoken about her family’s hopes for the singer’s recovery following his diagnosis of a rare brain disorder.
Last week, Joel announced the cancellation of all of his upcoming touring concert dates, after being diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). In a statement accompanying the cancellation, Joel shared that his condition was “exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance”.
NPH is caused by excess cerebrospinal fluid building up in the brain’s ventricles, which can create increased pressure that compresses brain tissue. This can cause neurological symptoms that are sometimes mistaken for dementia.
Now, Alexis – who has been married to Joel since 2015 – has thanked fans for their support via her official Instagram account. Sharing a photo of her with Joel and their two daughters, she wrote: “Thank you for the outpouring of love and support.
“We are so grateful for the wonderful care and swift diagnosis we received. Bill is beloved by so many, and to us, he is a father and husband who is at the center of our world. We are hopeful for his recovery. We look forward to seeing you all in the future.”
Her comments echo similar ones made by his daughter Alexa, who said her father was “entirely committed to making a full recovery with ongoing physical-therapy treatments as he continues to regain his strength”.
She also called him “the strongest and most resilient man I’ve ever known,” and thanked his fans for “the genuine care, empathy, and concern” they’ve showed since his reveal.
Prior to the news, in March Joel postponed his UK shows and a handful of North American dates to 2026. These shows will now no longer be going ahead.
In other news about the musician, the forthcoming new Billy Joel documentary will open the Tribeca Festival 2025. Billy Joel: And So It Goes – a two-part doc directed by Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin – will examine Joel’s life and music, “exploring the love, loss and personal struggles that fuel his songwriting”. It’ll feature access to never-before-seen performances, home movies, and personal photographs, along with one-on-one interviews.
