Alexa Ray Joel sends love, hope to dad Billy after diagnosis - Newsday
Alexa Ray Joel, the daughter of Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley, posted a message on Instagram on Saturday thanking people for "the beautiful outpouring of love and support" following her father’s announcement that he’d been diagnosed with a rare brain condition.
"We love you and we got you, Pop!," she wrote of her famous father, the Oyster Bay resident and legendary singer/songwriter.
The post was accompanied by a black and white sketch of a man and small girl holding hands.
Billy Joel, who is 76, announced on social media Friday he had been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, as Newsday reported — a condition in which fluid builds up in the brain and causes difficulties with balance, hearing and vision. Joel had surgery earlier this month and has canceled his upcoming tour to concentrate on his recovery and physical therapy, Joel's statement on social media said.
His daughter, who is also a singer and songwriter, wrote in her post, "My Dad is the strongest and most resilient man I’ve ever known," and that he was working in physical therapy to "regain his strength."
She wrote, "The genuine care, empathy, and concern from everyone means so much to him ... it means a lot to me, too."
Christie Brinkley posted a message to her ex-husband as well, including a concert montage that Brinkley said "reminded me of all the joy you create."
She ended her post saying, "We’re always in the mood for your melodies And we all hope you’re feeling alright!"
Fans had grown concerned about the Hicksville-raised rock icon since February, when he appeared to lose his balance and fell to the floor during a concert at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut.
In March, Joel, whose birthday was May 9, canceled eight concerts to recover from surgery, but hoped to be back to performing in four months. His next live date was to be July 5 with Rod Stewart at Pittsburgh’s Acrisure Stadium. Joel also had planned three New York City-area concerts in July at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, and in August at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and Citi Field in Queens. Joel was sharing those bills with Rod Stewart, Stevie Nicks and Sting, respectively. That trifecta would have made Joel the first entertainer to play all three stadiums in one season.