Billy Joel’s daughter Alexa opens up about singer’s | Music News

Alexa Ray Joel is opening up about her father Billy Joel’s health after the legendary singer revealed earlier this 12 months that he had been identified with regular strain hydrocephalus (NPH), a mind disorder that impacts imaginative and prescient, listening to, and steadiness.

The 76-year-old music icon announced his diagnosis in May, sharing that the condition had been “exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance.” He also explained that, under his doctor’s instructions, he was present process particular bodily therapy and suggested not to carry out during his recovery period. Shortly after, Joel canceled all of his tour dates scheduled for 2025 through mid-2026.

His daughter Alexa Ray Joel, 39, just lately told Fox News Digital that her father has shown exceptional strength in managing his health. “Unfortunately, I didn’t get this characteristic from him because I like to express how I’m feeling always,” she said. “He doesn’t whine, especially in his older age.”

She added, “I don’t know, maybe he did more when he was younger, and he put that angst into his music for sure, but he just doesn’t complain. He’s so cool about everything. He’s always playing everything down, ‘Oh, I’m fine. Don’t worry.’ He doesn’t want me to worry, and he’s just cool as a cat about everything. And I ask him, ‘I’m like, how are you feeling? Are you OK?’”

Alexa, who just lately launched her new single “Riverside Way,” revealed that her father has been dedicated to lifestyle modifications to prioritize his health. “He’s doing his physical therapy three to five days a week, which is really, really important for him right now,” she said. “He’s adjusted his diet. We had dinner the other night. I said, ‘Dad, what are you doing? You’re not getting the steak? You’re getting chicken instead?’ Like, this is a whole new you here.”

She added that Joel has even developed a style for meals he once disliked. “He’s suddenly eating eggplant and all sorts of vegetables. I said, ‘Dad, you used to hate eggplant.’ He’s like, ‘Oh, I’ve learned to love it.’

“So I’m really proud of him and how he sort of adjusted his habits, and he’s really at probably his most healthy actually right now in terms of how well he’s taking care of himself and prioritizing his health,” she explained. “Of course, as his eldest daughter, I’m always looking out for him and making sure he stays on the ball with that. So he’s doing great.”

Despite considerations about cognitive decline that sometimes accompany NPH, Alexa said she has not seen modifications in her father’s reminiscence. “It’s funny because people were concerned about cognitive decline. I don’t see any of that from him. I really, really don’t,” she said.

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“I was doing a segment for SiriusXM for his channel, the Billy Joel channel, a couple of weeks ago. I do a playlist of his songs. I do analysis on it with the backstories. So I interview him. I go straight to the source, my dad, and I ask him about all the material. And I was asking him, single by single, I said, ‘Well, which album is this from? What year?’ He remembers every album, the exact year, the order in which the singles were ordered on the album. So, as far as I’m concerned, he’s sharp as a tack. I said, ‘Oh my God, dad, I can’t believe you remember the year of every single song and what was going on and where you were living.’”

NPH most generally impacts people over age 65 and happens when cerebrospinal fluid builds up inside the cranium and presses on the mind.

Common symptoms embody strolling difficulties, incontinence, and reminiscence issues. Treatment often includes surgical procedure to implant a shunt to drain extra fluid.