Billy Joel celebrates ‘extra special' Father's Day after brain disorder diagnosis
And so it goes.
Billy Joel had an 'extra special' Father's Day amid his ongoing health battle.
The 76-year-old Grammy winner's wife, Alexis, 43, praised her 'strong' and 'determined' husband on Sunday, June 15, in a touching tribute shared to his Instagram.
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12 Billy Joel with his two youngest daughters Della, 9, and Remy, 7.
billyjoel/Instagram
Posting several never-before-seen photos of Joel's life as a father and family man, Alexis showcased intimate moments with the legendary singer and their two young daughters Della, 9, and Remy, 7.
'This Father's Day is extra special. We are always grateful and thankful but this year really reminded us how lucky we are to have you,' Alexis' tribute began.
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'We are so blessed to have such a strong, determined man in our lives. You are a wonderful support for us and we only hope we can be the same for you. We love you and know you will be rocking out next year💙💗💗💗.'
Joel's eldest daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, whom he shares with his ex-wife, Christie Brinkley, also posted a sweet message to her father in honor of the special day.
Sharing a black-and-white childhood photo of the singer holding her in his arms, Alexa captioned it, 'Happy Father's Day, Pop‼️ The King Of New York.'
12 His wife, Alexis, shared several never-before-seen images of Joel's life as a family man.
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12 Last month, the singer revealed he was diagnosed with a brain disorder.
billyjoel/Instagram
12 The 76-year-old Grammy winner canceled all of his tour dates through next year.
billyjoel/Instagram
She continued by thanking him for 'giving me all the love, wisdom, melodies, heart, and soul I could ever ask for.
'Hey, I'm even lucky enough to have a timeless lullaby and a beautiful boat named after me! I remain forever touched and grateful that you have given me so much,' she added before praising his 'generous spirit, endlessly deep intellect, and sweeping musical legacy.'
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Joel's oldest child concluded her Father's Day post, writing, 'You're a mensch! I'm lucky to have been so damn spoiled by you back in the day… after all, you gave me all the chocolate a daughter could ever ask for! Every moment with you is an instant classic. ❤️ Love Always & Forever, Alexa Ray.'
12 His oldest daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, also shared a touching tribute post to honor her father.
alexrayjoel/Instagram
12 Billy Joel has been married to his wife, Alexis, since 2015.
billyjoel/Instagram
12 The 'New York State of Mind' hitmaker is battling normal pressure hydrocephalus.
billyjoel/Instagram
The family's tributes come weeks after it was revealed that the 'New York State of Mind' singer was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus.
The disorder occurs when cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) builds up inside the skull and presses on the brain, disrupting cognitive functioning.
In the health announcement posted to his Instagram on May 23, the family revealed his condition got worse due to his recent concert performances, 'leading to problems with hearing, vision, and balance.'
12 The Post exclusively reported that Billy Joel wouldn't be attending the premiere of his documentary in the wake of his diagnosis.
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12 The singer has been making headlines for the bombshells in his documentary.
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The doctor ordered Joel to 'refrain from performing during this recovery period,' causing the 'We Didn't Start the Fire' hitmaker to cancel all of his tour dates through next year.
Despite his diagnosis, Joel reportedly has no plans to retire.
On his podcast, Howard Stern explained Joel's condition, adding the two had dinner two weeks before he announced his diagnosis.
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12 Billy Joel's diagnosis announcement.
Instagram/@billyjoel
'Yeah, he does have issues,' Stern shared. 'But he said, 'Yeah, you can tell people, you know, I'm not dying.' You know, he wants people to know that. He just, he's gotta deal with some medical stuff, but he was delightful.'
The Post exclusively reported that Joel would not be attending the Tribeca Film Festival for the premiere of his documentary 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes' earlier this month.
However, during the event, the doc directors Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin addressed Joel's absence, revealing a joke about death that the singer told them.
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12 'But he said, 'Yeah, you can tell people, you know, I'm not dying.' You know, he wants people to know that,' Howard Stern shared.
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'We know Billy wishes he were here tonight, and he asked us to convey that to you all. In fact, he said, 'Getting old sucks, but it's preferable to getting cremated,'' one of them recalled before assuring the crowd, 'He will be back.'
Joel didn't hold back in his documentary, making headlines for tackling tough issues like revealing he attempted to commit suicide twice after having an affair with his best friend's wife.
'I had no place to live. I was sleeping in laundromats and I was depressed I think to the point of almost being psychotic,' Joel shared in part.
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12
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'So I figured, 'That's it. I don't want to live anymore,'' he explained.
'I was just in a lot of pain and it was sort of like why hang out, tomorrow is going to be just like today is and today sucks. So, I just thought I'd end it all.'
Joel's documentary will air on HBO and HBO Max at an unannounced date later this summer.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
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