Christie Brinkley Shares Update on Ex Billy Joel Amid Health Journey

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Billy Joeldoesn’t need you to worry for him ’cause he’s alright.

Singer Billy Joel’s ex-wife, Christie Brinkley, recently shared an update on his health. This comes almost a year after he was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, a brain condition that affects fluid buildup.

At the City Harvest 2026 Benefit Gala in New York City on April 23rd, the model told Hello! Magazine that he is doing well.

Billy’s family has been a major source of support during his recent health challenges. He shares his daughter, Alexa Ray, 40, with his ex-wife Christie, whom he was married to from 1985 to 1994. He also has two younger children, Della Rose, 10, and Remy, 8, with his wife, Alexis Roderick.

It was incredibly moving when Alexa recently paid tribute to her father by singing his song, “This Night,” at a concert celebrating his life. My heart just swelled – Christie said it was the perfect moment, and honestly, I couldn’t agree more. It felt like such a beautiful and personal way for her to honor him.

The 72-year-old fondly remembered the event at Carnegie Hall in March, saying, “She was thrilled to perform for him.” She added that she regretted not being able to attend that evening.

Christie, who is also mother to Jack Brinkley-Cook, 30, and Sailor Brinkley-Cook, 27, shared that she was away from home, but everything else was great.

Billy, age 76, publicly shared his diagnosis of a condition that causes fluid to accumulate in the skull, potentially affecting hearing, balance, and vision, last May.

As many of you know, Billy Joel recently made the tough decision to pause touring. He’s putting his health first, and that means stepping back from all shows – even those planned way out in the future, like the ones we were looking forward to in April 2025 and July 2026. He wants to dedicate this time to fully recovering, and honestly, that’s the smartest thing to do. As someone who always advocates for well-being, I applaud him for prioritizing his health!

Billy shared a message on Instagram saying he was truly sorry to let his fans down, and he appreciated their understanding.

After two months, he shared a health update, saying he was still working on his balance but was gradually improving.

Billy shared on the July 2025 episode of Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast that the issue hadn’t been resolved, and that work on it was still in progress.

He said his coordination is off, comparing it to the unsteady feeling of being on a boat, but overall he feels okay. While doctors describe his condition as a brain disorder, he doesn’t feel as bad as that sounds.

Billy isn’t alone – many celebrities have openly shared their health challenges. Here are some other stars who have talked about their past medical experiences…

Nikki Bella, known from Total Bellas, shared that one of her breast implants moved after being hit in the chest by fellow wrestler Piper Niven during a match in July 2025.

She reassured her sister, Bella Garcia, that they would get the issue resolved eventually. She explained to the doctor that as soon as she finished her current commitment, she would return to address the problem and ensure everything looked its best, anticipating future use. She emphasized that the current condition wouldn’t do.

Lupita Nyong’o received a diagnosis of uterine fibroids – non-cancerous growths in or around the uterus – in 2014, the same year she won an Academy Award for her role in 12 Years a Slave.

She didn’t reveal her diagnosis until 2025, sharing on Instagram that she had been privately struggling with it for over ten years.

She explained that growing up, people are often told that periods are supposed to be painful, and that this pain is just something women have to deal with. This leaves many of us feeling like we’re going through a difficult experience on our own.

 

In July 2025, the actress from Daisy Jones & The Six revealed she was hospitalized for a hernia. This happened because she had been wearing pants that were too tight, which caused a gap in her abdominal muscles.

Someone messaged Suki on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, asking why she hadn’t posted recently. The message jokingly explained the silence by saying the sender had suffered a hernia six months prior from wearing very tight pants and had been afraid to mention it.

The former star of Beverly Hills, 90210 shared in April 2025 that he was recovering from surgery to fix a nearly ruptured appendix.

Brian shared in an Instagram video that he recently experienced stomach pain which led him to the emergency room. He discovered he had a perforated appendix – it hadn’t fully burst, but was very close to it.

He added, “I’m on the road to recovery. It’s not an easy process. This is my first major surgery.”

Oh my gosh, I was so worried! Our amazing midfielder for Racing Louisville actually collapsed early in the game against Seattle Reign on September 14th. It was at Lumen Field in Seattle, and I was absolutely terrified seeing it happen. I just kept hoping she’d be okay!

According to Reuters, the U.S. Women’s National Team player sat down on the field with a teammate supporting her, and then quickly collapsed. Trainers were called to assess her condition.

I was so relieved to hear that Savannah got immediate medical attention right on the field. The NWSL posted later that night that she was taken to a local hospital to be checked out further, but thankfully, she’s stable and alert. It was scary, but it’s good to know she’s doing okay.

Oh my gosh, you won’t BELIEVE this about Adam Devine! I just found out that when he was eleven years old, he was actually HIT by a cement truck! Seriously! And it’s still causing him problems now? It’s just… heartbreaking, honestly. I always loved his physical comedy, but knowing he’s been dealing with injuries from that since he was a kid? It makes me appreciate him even more! I’m sending all the good vibes his way!

“It’s been incredibly difficult,” Devine shared on the In Depth With Graham Bensinger podcast in 2025. “I experience spasms throughout my body, and doctors recently told me I was facing a life-threatening situation—within the last year, actually.”

He explained that his pain is intermittent, and described having some physical imperfections, saying, “My body isn’t quite right in a few places.”

A former contestant on The Bachelor went to the hospital in extreme back pain, reportedly having to crawl because it was so bad. The pain flared up during a road trip with a friend while traveling in an RV.

He described a lingering tingling sensation in his knees and toes during a March 2025 episode of his podcast, Trading Secrets. He explained that just a few weeks prior, he was able to squat 295 pounds, but now he can’t even do a basic squat or stand on one leg without falling. He compared the feeling to having a stroke.

But with the help of a back specialist and some steroids, he added, “We’re on the mend.”

Gina Kirschenheiter from The Real Housewives of Orange County revealed that her ex-husband, Matt Kirschenheiter, had a heart attack in March 2025, but he is recovering well.

In March 2025, the actor known for 30 Rock experienced a medical issue at a New York Knicks game and had to be taken out of Madison Square Garden in a wheelchair.

Oh my gosh, I was SO worried! He posted this update yesterday, and thankfully it was just food poisoning! He said he’s getting better, and I literally breathed a sigh of relief. Seriously, I was a mess until I saw that post!

In February 2025, the former Even Stevens star revealed she was shot in the face during a birthday outing with her husband, Brendan Rooney. They were on a trip to go clay pigeon shooting when the incident occurred.

In an Instagram post, she explained that she was accidentally shot in the face by someone at a party who fired a gun unsafely. Thankfully, @thebrendanrooney quickly helped her, evaluated her injuries, and took her to the hospital. She was hit five times, and one bullet narrowly missed her right eye by less than an inch.

The Kim Possible actress explained that a small piece of something got stuck behind her eye. Doctors have advised against removing it with surgery right now, but they’ll keep a close watch on her vision, which is currently normal.

The actress expressed immense gratitude for surviving. She shared her deep love for her daughters, husband, family, and friends, explaining that she had a life-changing experience where she realized how quickly things can change. She urged everyone to cherish their loved ones and hug them often.

As a lifestyle expert, I’m always amazed by how things unfold, and Amy Schumer’s story is a perfect example! She recently shared how the internet, surprisingly, played a role in getting her a diagnosis. After doing a lot of press, people started commenting on her face, and honestly, it felt like a bit of a pile-on. But then, something unexpected happened – doctors started chiming in with genuine concern, suggesting she might have Cushing syndrome due to high cortisol levels or steroid injections. It made her realize she had been getting steroid injections after a breast reduction and C-section. She wouldn’t have connected the dots without those comments! She was diagnosed with a form of Cushing syndrome, and she’s so grateful the internet pushed her to investigate. Now, she’s relieved it’s a type that will resolve on its own, and she’s healthy – truly the best news she could have asked for. It just goes to show, sometimes good can come from unexpected places, even online!

During a December 2024 game, an AHL player was accidentally cut in the face by another player’s skate and needed 25 stitches. After his son made a full recovery, New Jersey Devils General Manager Tom Fitzgerald told ESPN how relieved they were, saying, “We feel very lucky, and I wouldn’t want any parent to go through that.”

In March 2022, Hailey Bieber experienced a frightening health scare while having breakfast with her husband, Justin Bieber. She suddenly developed stroke-like symptoms, unable to speak and experiencing drooping on the right side of her face. Although these symptoms eventually passed, she went to the hospital for testing. Doctors discovered she had a small blood clot in her brain, which they identified as a TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack), often called a ‘mini-stroke’. Further investigation at UCLA revealed Hailey had a hole in her heart, known as a patent foramen ovale (PFO). This hole allowed the blood clot to travel to her brain, causing the TIA. Hailey successfully underwent a procedure to close the PFO and is now doing well.

The same year Hailey faced a health issue, Justin also experienced one. In June 2022, he revealed he had been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which caused temporary paralysis on one side of his face. This forced him to cancel the remaining dates of his Justice World Tour.

In a video posted to Instagram, Justin explained the condition affected the nerves in his ear and face, preventing him from blinking, smiling, or moving his nostril on one side. He also shared that it had become increasingly difficult for him to eat.

Fortunately, the paralysis eventually went away. Hailey shared on Good Morning America that Justin was recovering well, and while the situation had been frightening, he was expected to make a full recovery. She expressed gratitude that he was doing okay.

Jamie Foxx recently shared details about the health scare he experienced in April 2023, which he had initially kept private. He explained that while in Atlanta, he suffered a severe headache and asked for aspirin, but then lost consciousness. He doesn’t remember the next 20 days.

Initially, a doctor gave him a cortisone shot and sent him home, but his sister, Deidra Dixon, became worried and took him to the hospital. There, doctors discovered he had a brain bleed that led to a stroke.

After surgery, Jamie woke up in a wheelchair on May 4th, unable to walk. He then traveled to Chicago for extensive rehabilitation and therapy. He expressed deep gratitude for the prayers he received, saying he needed every single one.

The reality TV star shared that she briefly stopped breathing while running a mile during the first challenge on the NBC show.

She shared on the show Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser that her memory of the event was fragmented. She recalled hearing a helicopter, feeling like she was floating, and then seeing her grandfather. After that, she remembered only darkness, followed by light, leading her to realize she had died that day.

She explained that her organs were failing. She hadn’t known she had rhabdomyolysis, a condition where the body essentially begins to shut down.

Emilia Clarke, known for her role in Game of Thrones, revealed a harrowing health battle in a 2019 essay for The New Yorker. While filming the show, she experienced a sudden and severe headache while at the gym. She described collapsing and becoming violently ill, realizing something was seriously wrong with her brain.

A hospital scan quickly revealed a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), a life-threatening stroke caused by bleeding around the brain. It was determined she had an aneurysm, a ruptured blood vessel. She immediately underwent surgery to repair it, describing the pain as unbearable. During her recovery, she struggled with aphasia, making it difficult to speak coherently.

After a week, her aphasia subsided, and she was discharged from the hospital a month later. However, a 2013 scan revealed the aneurysm had grown, requiring a second surgery. This surgery was unsuccessful, leading to a major bleed and putting her life at risk. Doctors had to perform a more invasive procedure, accessing her brain directly through her skull.

Fortunately, Emilia reports that she has now made a full recovery and is back to feeling 100%.

Cori Broadus, Snoop Dogg’s daughter, recently shared her gratitude for her family’s support after she suffered a stroke in January 2024. She told TopMob News that she immediately contacted her loved ones, sending a text and a picture, and they quickly came to her aid.

Cori ended up staying in the hospital longer than expected due to additional health issues. She explained that while she could have gone home after the stroke, she was also dealing with complications from lupus and kidney problems.

Fortunately, Cori is now recovering well. “I’m doing great,” she said. She’s been working on regaining some motor skills, but is otherwise feeling good.

Shailene Woodley struggled with significant health issues throughout her early twenties. In a September 2024 podcast interview, she described a time when she was losing her hearing, unable to walk for more than a few minutes without needing to rest for hours, and experiencing constant stomach pain. She faced confusion due to conflicting diagnoses from different doctors.

Shailene, who has chosen to keep the specifics of her condition private, embarked on a ten-year journey to find answers, combining traditional medical advice with holistic and herbal remedies. This period of physical discomfort led to anxieties around food and deeper issues of body image and self-identity.

Ultimately, Shailene’s health improved, and she is now feeling very well. She shared that her physical issues resolved themselves, and she’s happy to be in a healthy place now.

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2026-04-24 23:19