Christie Brinkley speaks out on Billy Joel diagnosis in loving message

USA Today

25-05-2025

Christie Brinkley speaks out on Billy Joel diagnosis in loving message
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Billy Joel cancels upcoming concerts amid brain disorder diagnosis
Billy Joel is canceling all his upcoming concerts as the singer has been diagnosed with a brain disorder known as normal pressure hydrocephalus.
Christie Brinkley is here to support Billy Joel.
A day after the music icon revealed he'd been diagnosed with the brain disorder normal pressure hydrocephalus, Brinkley paid heartfelt tribute to her ex-husband on Instagram.
'Dear Billy, The whole Brinkley gang is sending you lots of love and good wishes for a full and speedy recovery,' she wrote on May 24. 'You turn an arena of strangers into a living room full of friends as we all sway in unison.
'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!'
Billy Joel has NPH: What is normal pressure hydrocephalus, and what are symptoms?
She signed the message: 'We Love You, the kids, me and an arena or two!'
The famously friendly exes were married from 1985 to 1994. Brinkley, 71, and Joel, 76, share their firstborn, daughter Alexa Ray Joel, 39.
The message appeared with a compilation of clips that showed Brinkley and her 26-year-old daughter Sailor Brinkley-Cook (from the model's subsequent marriage to Peter Cook) singing and dancing at Joel's shows. In one bit of footage, seemingly shot backstage, Sailor sings Joel's 'You May Be Right' to the musician, who jokes that she gets the accent right.
Alexa Ray also cheered her dad on in her own Instagram post on May 24.
'We love you and we got you, Pop!' she wrote alongside artwork of her hand-in-hand with Joel onstage, thanking fans for 'all for the beautiful outpouring of love and support amid the recent news.'
'My Dad is the strongest and most resilient man I've ever known,' she said '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.'
'The music continues,' she concluded.
Joel stunned fans when he announced his diagnosis on May 23 and canceled all of his upcoming concerts, a stadium tour that included stops in the Bronx, Pittsburgh, Detroit, New Orleans and more.
The "Uptown Girl" and "The Longest Time" singer, songwriter and piano player shared he had been diagnosed with NPH, a brain disorder that can affect vision, balance and hearing. "I'm sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding," Joel wrote on Instagram.
"This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances," a statement posted to Joel's Instagram said, and he "has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period."
"Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritizing his health."
NPH is a disorder in which excess fluid accumulates in the brain, causing issues with thinking and reasoning as well as sometimes walking and bladder control, according to the Alzheimer's Association.
Contributing: Anna Kaufman and Melissa Ruggieri