Billy Joel ‘not ready to retire' as he battles shocking brain disorder: report
Despite being diagnosed with a brain disorder called normal pressure hydrocephalus, Billy Joel reportedly isn't looking to step back from his career anytime soon.
'He is happiest while performing,' a music industry insider told People on Tuesday. 'Music is, has been and will always be his life. He's not ready to retire.'
The musician, 76, did, however, cancel all of his upcoming tour dates due to his condition.
NPH occurs when cerebrospinal fluid builds up inside the skull and presses on the brain, disrupting cognitive functioning.
A source close to Joel confirmed to the outlet, 'He is not retiring and hopes to be able to resume performing as his recovery progresses.'
The Post reached out to Joel's rep for comment.
On Monday, the artist's wife, Alexis Roderick Joel, whom he tied the knot with in a surprise ceremony in 2015, addressed fans on Joel's social media account.
'Thank you for the outpouring of love and support,' she wrote on her husband's Instagram beneath a family photo of the couple and their daughters Della, 9, and Remy, 7. '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,' Alexis added. 'We are hopeful for his recovery. We look forward to seeing you all in the future.'
In a previous statement via Instagram, Joel's team explained why he had to cancel his concerts, sharing that his brain disorder became worse after performing, which led 'to problems with hearing, vision and balance.'
'Under his doctor's instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during his recovery period,' the message read.
'Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritizing his health. He is grateful for the support from fans during this time,' they continued, 'and looks forward to the day when he can once again take the stage.'
Joel said in his own statement, 'I'm sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding.'
Before his diagnosis, the singer fell during a February concert in Connecticut, as seen in a video posted by a fan.
In the clip, Joel stumbled on the stage before falling backward and landing on his side. He then got up and continued with the show.
The Grammy winner's eldest daughter, Alexa, whom he has with ex-wife Christie Brinkley, took to her own social media page earlier this week to share a touching tribute to her father amid his diagnosis.
'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,' the 39-year-old said on Instagram. '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.'
Joel's wife, meanwhile, has also been vocal about her own health struggles, recently opening up about how her other half has stood by her side as she lives with endometriosis.
'He's extremely supportive,' Alexis told Fox New Digital earlier this month. 'So picking up where I leave off and covering my deficits during that time was huge. We're just always researching — he'll email me articles like, 'Did you know that this happens with endometriosis?''
The disease causes tissue to grow outside the uterus and can lead to chronic pain.
'Never in a million years would I think that he would be sending me that kind of stuff, but when you're watching someone suffer, you pick up,' Alexis said. 'You have to. It's what we do. We're a family.'
The mom of two was raising the girls while accompanying Joel on tour, which was hard to balance while dealing with her endometriosis diagnosis.
'I was doing it, but I was not doing it very well,' she said.
'So, especially with kids, if you've ever traveled with children and done a time zone change, that alone is an insane situation,' she noted. 'So, if you add in also having a husband, that requires time and attention — you know, he's working, we're not vacationing. And me going through what I'm going through, it was really rough.'
'Luckily, when he's touring, we have a lot of support, which was really helpful,' Alexis added. 'And it was huge. So I'm lucky in that I do have people to help me. And you have to, because you reach your limit. I mean, there's nothing you can do.'
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