Billy Joel’s Uptown Girl ex Christie Brinkley breaks silence on his brain condition diagnosis
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Billy Joel’s ex-wife Christie Brinkley, the inspiration for his beloved song Uptown Girl, has broken her silence on his heartbreaking health downturn.
He revealed this week that he is battling a brain condition and has announced the cancellation of his upcoming concerts, following recent onstage struggles.
The Piano Man singer, 76, took to Instagram on Friday to share that he has been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH).
The condition has impacted Joel’s ‘hearing, vision, and balance,’ according to the social media post.
Now Brinkley, who retained an amicable relationship with Joel after they divorced in 1994, has issued a touching response to the news.
She uploaded footage of her attending one of Joel’s recent concerts with their daughter Alexa Ray Joel, 39, as well as a clip of Alexa and her father backstage.
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Billy Joel ‘s ex-wife Christie Brinkley, the inspiration for his beloved song Uptown Girl, has broken her silence on his heartbreaking health downturn; pictured 1990
In the backstage clip, Alexa playfully sang a snatch of Joel’s song You May Be Right, while her father grinned and watched.
During the concert, Brinkley filmed her daughter beaming and dancing enthusiastically as Joel and his band performed onstage.
‘Dear Billy,’ wrote Brinkley in the caption: ‘The whole Brinkley gang is sending you lots of love and good wishes for a full and speedy recovery .’
She added: ‘I was looking for some cute photos of you and Alexa to send you, when I came across this clip from a recent concert.’
The footage, she said: ‘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 ..’
Brinkley concluded her caption: ‘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! We Love You, the kids, me and an arena or two!’
Alexa posted her own reaction to the development, writing: ‘SOUND UP We love you and we got you, Pop! I just wanted to thank you all for the beautiful outpouring of love and support amid the recent news of My Father’s health diagnosis.’
She continued: ‘My Dad is the strongest and most resilient man I’ve ever known… and he’s entirely committed to making a full recovery with ongoing physical-therapy treatments as he continues to regain his strength. The genuine care, empathy, and concern from everyone means so much to him… it means a lot to me, too.’
She uploaded footage of her attending one of Joel’s recent concerts with their daughter Alexa Ray Joel, 39, as well as a clip of Alexa and her father backstage
During the concert, Brinkley filmed her daughter beaming and dancing enthusiastically as Joel and his band performed onstage
She added: ‘I was looking for some cute photos of you and Alexa to send you, when I came across this clip from a recent concert’
Joel revealed he’s battling a brain condition and has announced the cancellation of his upcoming concerts, following a series of frail performances that left fans concerned; (seen in July 2024)
The Piano Man singer, 76, took to Instagram on Friday to share that he’s been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH)
Alexa then quoted from the song her father wrote for her, his 1993 release Lullabye (Goodnight My Angel): ‘Someday We’ll All Be Gone / But Lullabies Go On And On / They Never Die / That’s How You And I Will Be.’
She then assured her more than 200,000 followers: ‘The music continues…,’ before signing off her message: ‘All My Love, Alexa Ray.’
Joel’s condition, hydrocephalus, entails ‘the buildup of fluid in the brain, enlarging the ventricles and puts pressure on brain tissue, potentially causing damage and neurological symptoms,’ per Mayo Clinic.
His Instagram statement also revealed that his recent live shows have worsened the symptoms.
Joel is currently undergoing targeted physical therapy as prescribed by his doctor and has been ‘advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period.’
When diagnosed early, NPH can often be effectively treated with surgery that drains excess fluid from the brain, relieving pressure and symptoms.
However, if left untreated, the condition may lead to permanent damage in its later stages.
The legendary musician also expressed his gratitude for the care he’s receiving and thanked fans for their continued support.
‘I’m sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding,’ Joel wrote on Instagram.
‘Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritizing his health,’ the statement added.
It continued, ‘He is grateful for the support from fans during this time and looks forward to the day when he can once again take the stage.’
Fans won’t need to take any steps to receive a refund—payments will be automatically returned to the original form of purchase.
The heartbreaking announcement follows a troubling onstage incident in which Joel suffered a hard fall after tossing his microphone, collapsing in front of a live audience in February
While performing at the Mohegan Sun resort in Montville, Connecticut in February, Joel lost his footing
Billy was performing his song It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me when he stumbled backwards and fell on his back, prompting gasps from the audience
Canceled dates include his summer show in New York City, along with stops in New Orleans, Toronto, Santa Clara, Salt Lake City, Washington, D.C., and Liverpool.
The new health update comes after Joel previously postponed his tour by only four months ‘due to a medical condition.’
A statement posted to his Instagram on March 11 revealed the tour has been halted after the Uptown Girl singer underwent a recent surgery.
‘The current tour will be postponed for four months to allow him to recover from recent surgery and to undergo physical therapy under the supervision of his doctors. Joel is expected to make a full recovery. The tour will resume at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on July 5, 2025,’ the post read.
‘While I regret postponing any shows, my health must come first. I look forward to getting back on stage and sharing the joy of live music with our amazing fans. Thank you for your understanding,’ Joel said in the statement at the time.
Shortly after, numerous fans sent their prayers and well-wishes for Joel’s speedy recovery.
‘Take whatever time you need for you to heal,’ one wrote, adding a red heart emoji. ‘stay healthy. We need you around a long time.!’
‘Sending love and healing to @billyjoel !!’ another wrote.
‘Speedy recovery. The comeback is always greater than the setback,’ one fan posted.
Multiple fans also speculated if his medical issues were connected to his recent fall on stage.
Joel seen performing in February 2025
‘Did this have anything to do with the fall he had a couple weeks ago?? Take care Billy!!’ one asked.
‘Did he break something when he took a spill on stage?’ another askd.
On Reddit, one posted: ‘I hope he’s ok. I wonder what happened,’ prompting one to respond suggesting that his recent fall may have factored into his current condition.
‘I was afraid it was related to the fall. Even though he played it off, I thought there might be more to it,’ the first poster said.
‘Hope Billy is all good (especially after he fell on stage recently),’ another weighed in.
In late February, Joel suffered a nasty fall on stage during a gig at the Mohegan Sun resort in Monteville, Connecticut, sparking major fear amongst fans.
Footage from the show captures the Grammy winner spinning a microphone stand before hurling it across the stage—only to suddenly topple over moments later.
Fans sent their prayers and well-wishes for a speedy recovery on social media
The musician was helped up by his band managed to carry on with the rest of the show and sang one more song for his fans.
One attendee said: ‘He looked frail hobbling across the stage. At one point, he was using the microphone stand as a cane.
‘I was really very concerned about him throughout the concert.’
Meanwhile, fans flooded social media with shocked reactions, with one writing, ‘Oh my goodness, I hope he gets better.’
Photos of the unsettling fall capture Joel—dressed in an all-black suit and dress shoes—appearing to stumble before hitting the stage hard on his side, then rolling onto his back.
And the songwriter has never been one to shy away from discussing the realities of aging.
In a conversation with BBC Radio 2 DJ Zoe Ball, he was asked whether he maintains a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise.
His candid response? ‘None of the above. I don’t think I look all that good. But I don’t look in the mirror that often, which helps a lot. There’s a saying, “things don’t look half bad with one eye closed.”‘
Joel, Christie Brinkley and their daughter Alexis Ray Joel in 1988
Over the years, Joel has been open about his struggles with alcohol and substance abuse, as well as his battles with mental health, which at one point led to a suicide attempt amid career pressures.
Reflecting on what he’s most proud of, the legendary musician summed it up simply: ‘My ability to move on with life. I’ve had difficulties in my life, but it never stopped me from continuing. Troubles with business didn’t stop me from doing business. I have no bitterness about anything, even people who rip me off, I let it go. I’m content with that. I’m happy. I’m having a happy ending.’
Billy’s illustrious career as a musician began back in the mid-1960, which led to the release of debut studio album, Cold Spring Harbor (1971).
But it failed to gain any real traction until after the success of his follow-up, Piano Man (1973), that peaked at number 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number four on the Adult Contemporary singles chart.
Now an established name on the musical landscape, Joel became a million seller with the release of Streetlife Serenade (1974), but his commercial breakout making him a bonafide star came with the release of The Stranger (1977), which featured the hit singles Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song), Just The Way You Are, She’s Always a Woman, The Stranger, and Only The Good Die Young.
He would go on to release a 13th album – Fantasies & Delusions (2001) – that features classical compositions from Joel, a first for him during his career.
With over 160 million records sold worldwide, Billy Joel is one of the world’s best-selling musical artists, and the fourth-best-selling solo artist in the United States.
