“Amazing things are in store for this girl,” the singer said after Della Rose’s milestone moment.

Billy Joel celebrates his 10-year-old daughter graduating elementary school: ‘Beyond proud’

"Amazing things are in store for this girl," the singer said after Della Rose's milestone moment.

By Jason Lamphier

Jason Lamphier is a senior editor at who covers news and music. Before joining EW, he was an editor at The New York Observer, Out, and Interview.

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May 29, 2026 1:19 p.m. ET

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Billy Joel with his daughter, Della Rose, and his wife, Alexis Roderick. Credit:

Billy Joel/Instagram

- Billy Joel celebrated his 10-year-old daughter, Della Rose, graduating elementary school.

- The "Piano Man" singer said he and his wife, Alexis Roderick, are "beyond proud" of her achievement.

- "Amazing things are in store for this girl," Joel said of his middle child.

Billy Joel is in a proud dad state of mind.

This week, the 77-year-old Grammy winner celebrated a major milestone for his young daughter.

"Congratulations to our elementary school graduate!" Joel wrote on Instagram, gushing over 10-year-old Della Rose's latest accomplishment with a series of photos of her through the years. "We now have a middle schooler."

The first image in his carousel showed Della Rose flanked by Joel and her mom, Alexis Roderick, as she held up her diploma.

"Mommy and Daddy are beyond proud of all your hard work and determination," Joel wrote. "Your first day of school seemed like yesterday. Amazing things are in store for this girl."

Joel also included images of his middle child with a packet of Writer's Tea (perhaps a nod to her father's profession); her with a sign that read "2nd Grade"; her and her 8-year-older sister, Remy Anne, in their school uniforms; and her strutting down a driveway with Joel just behind her carrying two bags, one of which seemed to be her book bag.

Billy Joel with his middle daughter, Della Rose.

Billy Joel/Instagram

Joel and Roderick married in 2015 and share Della and Remy Anne. Joel has another daughter, 40-year-old Alexa Ray Joel, whom he shares with his second wife, Christie Brinkley.

The singer-songwriter feted another one of Della Rose's big achievements last August: her turning 10. "How did we get to 10 years already?" he posted on Instagram along with a photo of Della Rose with Remy Anne and her parents at the beach. "It seems like just yesterday you were running around the house looking for 'Piano Man.'"

Joel wrote, "We are so proud of your sweet nature, empathy for others, and endless love. You see everything through caring eyes. We could not ask for anything more. We all love you beyond measure."

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In May 2025, Joel canceled his upcoming tour dates, revealing that he had been diagnosed with a brain disorder called normal pressure hydrocephalus, which occurs when cerebrospinal fluid builds up inside the skull and presses on the brain. A statement posted to his social media accounts at the time said his recent performances had made the condition worse, causing problems with his hearing, vision, and balance.

"Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period," the statement 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 and looks forward to the day when he can once again take the stage."

Della Rose Joel and Billy Joel perform at the last show of his residency at Madison Square Garden in July 2024.

Kevin Mazur/Getty

Since then, Joel has kept a lower profile to focus on this health, but he surprised fans in January, popping up at a show by Turnstiles, a Billy Joel cover band, to perform his songs "We Didn't Start the Fire" and "Big Shot" with them.

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Joel's eldest daughter gave an update on his heath in March. "He's doing physical therapy regularly and he's doing great," Alexa Ray told *The Hollywood Reporter*. "He's lost weight as he's on his diet. I'm so proud of him. He's such a trooper, so resilient and committed to being healthy and proactive. He's a fighter."

She also took the stage in March to honor her father in *The Music of Billy Joel, *a special tribute to the legendary musician at New York's Carnegie Hall. Other performers at the celebration included Wyclef Jean, Matchbox Twenty's Rob Thomas, Train's Pat Monahan, and Rufus Wainwright.**

Joel was recently the subject of the 2025 two-part documentary *Billy Joel: And So It Goes, *which is streaming now on HBO Max.**

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