Singer Billy Joel’s youngest daughters are following in their father’s musical footsteps.
On Tuesday, the minstrel’s “uptown girls” Della Rose, 8, and Remy Anne, 6, joined their famous father, 74, on stage at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Dressed festively in green leather-looking dresses and black tights, the duo performed the Christmas classic “Jingle Bells” alongside their famous dad.
Later, special guest musician Elvis Costello also joined Mr. Joel to perform a duet. With Mr. Joel at the piano, Mr. Costello sang “Pump It Up” while the pair joined vocals to duet on “Allentown,” from Mr. Joel’s 1982 album ”The Nylon Curtain.”
Mr. Joel shares his two youngest daughters with his fourth wife, Alexis Roderick, whom he married in 2015 at the couple’s annual Fourth of July party in Long Island. He is also dad to daughter Alexa Ray, 36, who he had with his second wife, supermodel Christie Brinkley.
Past Live Performances With His Children
When it comes to Mr. Joel singing live with his children, Tuesday’s performance wasn’t the first. In 2018, Della Rose helped her famous father belt out his 1980s hit “Don’t Tell Me Why” at the same iconic venue. It’s what Mr. Joel described as one of her favorite songs.
Madison Square Garden Residency to End
It was in June that Mr. Joel announced that after 150 shows he would conclude his monthly show schedule at Madison Square Garden in July 2024. The record-breaking residency first kicked off in January 2014 and was only halted during COVID-19 and for a few other occasions when medical issues forced a show delay.Mr. Joel had promised to keep playing “as long as the demand continues,” and the demand only grew as the years went by. That’s despite the fact that it’s now been 30 years since Mr. Joel released his latest album.
“It’s hard to believe we’ve been able to do this for 10 years,” Mr. Joel said at a news conference at the time. “I’m now 74. I’ll be 75 next year. It seems like a nice number.”
“I’m kind of flabbergasted that it lasted as long as it did. My team tells me that we could continue to sell tickets but 10 years, 150 shows—all right already!” the “Piano Man” singer added.
New Exhibit Honors Joel
Beyond performing, Mr. Joel has marked other landmarks recently.In November, a new exhibit entitled “Billy Joel: My Life — A Piano Man’s Journey” opened at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame. The showcase explores and honors the Grammy winner’s more than 50-year career.
For Mr. Joel, the idea of having such an exhibit dedicated to him was “overwhelming.”
“It’s a little overwhelming,” Mr. Joel said prior to the exhibit opening. “Have you ever found yourself surrounded by you? It’s kind of a nightmare.”
“I guess I’ve lived,” he said.
The exhibit is slated to stay at the LIMEHOF through the summer of 2024.
In terms of performances, Mr. Joel will return to the stage on New Year’s Eve in Long Island. He is set to perform at the UBS Arena at Belmont Park for the first time, before returning to Madison Square Garden on Jan. 11 for another sold-out show.
