Billy Joel receives standing ovation at Carnegie Hall tribute with Pink attending

Billy Joel, 76, delighted a sold-out Carnegie Hall audience Thursday night, waving from his seat on the first tier as attendees gave him a standing ovation. Pink attended the tribute with her daughter, Willow Sage Hart, 14; the two singers are said to be pals. The Grammy winner was spotted walking with a cane outside a Four Seasons hotel before heading over to the hall.

The evening was the 21st annual "Music Of" benefit, which raises funds for music education for underserved youth programs. Performers included Rufus Wainwright, Itzhak Perlman, Wyclef Jean, Natalie Merchant and Joel’s daughter, Alexa Ray, who took the stage as part of the tribute.

Joel had canceled several gigs last year after revealing in May 2025 that he had been diagnosed with NPH, a treatable brain disorder. Two months later he released a statement reassuring fans he was doing fine, and he told People at the time, "It was scary, but I’m okay." Earlier this year he surprised fans with his first performance since revealing the diagnosis.

billy joel, carnegie hall, pink, alexa ray, itzhak perlman, wyclef jean, rufus wainwright, natalie merchant, nph, music education