Who is Alexa Ray Joel? Billy Joel’s daughter shares emotional post after dad’s brain disorder diagnosis

Singer/songwriter Billy Joel, 76, recently revealed that he is taking a break from his music career as he was diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH). According to the Alzheimer's Association, it is a condition in which cerebrospinal fluid collects in the brain and can impair hearing, vision, and balance.

The daughter of supermodel Christie Brinkley and Billy Joel, Alexa Ray Joel is a singer/songwriter who has been in the public eye for most of her life. She was born on December 29, 1985, in Manhattan, New York.

Similar to her dad, Alexa Ray works in the music industry. She released her debut EP, Sketches, in 2006, which was positively received by the media. She went on to follow the song with singles like Notice Me and All I Can Do Is Love.

On May 24, Alexa Ray, 39, shared an emotional post for her father on Instagram. She shared a black and white illustration of a father holding the hand of his daughter.

"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. 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."

"The genuine care, empathy, and concern from everyone means so much to him… it means a lot to me, too. ‘Someday We’ll All Be Gone / But Lullabies Go On And On / They Never Die / That’s How You And I Will Be.’ The music continues…All My Love, Alexa Ray." she captioned the post.

In the caption, she thanked everyone who had expressed their love. She ended her post with tender lyrics from “Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel),” a song written by Billy Joel for his daughter in 1993.

More about Alexa Ray Joel's career and her struggles

Alexa Ray Joel learned to sing as a child, and then in 2005, right after graduating high school, formed her first band (History learning Site). On her first US tour, she and her band played close to 100 shows in two months, and thereafter, she started her journey to becoming a full-time musician.

She has since released her music with labels such as Audio Bee, ARJ Music and The Hang Productions. She has even had several collaborations with her father.

According to Alexa Ray, she has been subjected to severe scrutiny and has struggled to gain an identity and career of her own. She was born into privilege, but was plagued by shyness and self doubt.

"I was a late bloomer, and I was painfully shy. I don't know why I just decided to go into performing, because I am such an introvert at my core. (But) music has always been my solace," she told TODAY.

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Having grown up in the shadow of two very famous parents, Alexa Ray Joel supposedly had to work hard to stand on her own. She has been honest about the pressures of her family name.

"You're exposed to the spotlight at such a young age and that, of course, can be challenging. … But I made it through." She said.

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