Though Billy Joel might be sidelined with health issues currently, directors of the new documentary, Billy Joel: And So It Goes, have shared a positive message from the singer.

Joel, who recently canceled all live performances due to a health issue affecting his ability to perform, had initially planned to be in attendance at the Tribeca Festival for the premiere of the new documentary about his life.

In his absence though, director Susan Lacy shared a message to the audience, with Variety noting Lacy told those in attendance that, “He will be back.”

“Billy wishes he were here tonight, and he asked us to convey his greetings to you all,” Lacy added (via Deadline). “He said ‘getting old sucks, but it’s still preferable to getting cremated.’”

Lacy was in attendance with producer Jessica Levin at New York City’s Beacon Theatre on Wednesday (June 4) for the premiere of the first part of the two-part documentary. Alongside attendees such as Tom Hanks and Whoopi Goldberg, Tribeca Festival co-founder Robert De Niro echoed the impact Joel has had upon the city.

“Billy may be considered the poet laureate of New York,” De Niro claimed. “You feel the essence of our city in his lyrics.”

The Billy Joel: And So It Goes documentary – which will air on HBO over the summer – aims to provide “an expansive portrait of the life and music of Billy Joel,” while focusing on the love, loss, and personal struggles that have informed his creative process.

Last month, Joel announced the cancellation of his forthcoming performances due to his recent diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus – a condition that occurs when cerebrospinal fluid builds up inside the skull, pressing on the brain.

In a social media post, a statement claimed that Joel’s condition has been “exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance.” 

It continued; “Under his doctor’s instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period. Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritizing his health”

On Tuesday (June 3), radio host Howard Stern told his listeners that he recently had dinner with Joel, who offered a message to be shared with the general public. “He said, ‘Yeah, you can tell people: I’m not dying,’” Stern said. “He wants people to know that. He’s just got to deal with some medical stuff.”