NEWS
Robert De Niro has wished Billy Joel his “love and full support” on the opening night of the Tribeca Film Festival while reciting snippets of his songs.
The ‘Piano Man’ singer was due to appear at the premiere of his two-part documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes, screened on Tribeca’s opening night yesterday (June 4). However, amid his recent diagnosis of brain disorder normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), Joel was absent from the premiere.
Now, Tribeca co-founders Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal have spoken about the legendary musician in their opening remarks. Throughout their speech, they recited lines from hits like ‘Movin’ Out’, ‘Only the Good Die Young’, ‘New York State of Mind’ and ‘You May Be Right’, with De Niro then calling Joel “the poet laureate of New York”.
“Billy wanted to be with us tonight, but as you may have heard, he’s dealing with a health issue and had to postpone his performances – including this one tonight,” Rosenthal added. “We know you’ll join us in wishing him a speedy recovery.”
De Niro continued, saying of the documentary: “He’s our piano man, a wonderful, beautiful part of the heart of our city. Tonight, you get to see the man behind the music and behind the legend. You’re in for a real treat.”
Billy Joel: And So It Goes was screened at the Beacon Theatre in New York City, and was directed by Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin.
The documentary will air on HBO this summer, and is set to explore Joel’s life and music, “exploring the love, loss and personal struggles that fuel his songwriting”. The documentary will also feature access to never-before-seen performances, home movies, and personal photographs, along with one-on-one interviews.
Lacy told the audience at the premiere that Joel “will be back” soon, adding: “He said ‘getting old sucks, but it’s still preferable to getting cremated.’”
Meanwhile, Robert De Niro has said the world has to “stand up” to “bully” Donald Trump while accepting an honorary Palme d’Or at Cannes Film Festival. He told The Guardian: “We have to stop what’s going on, it’s insane. We can’t have apathy and silence. You have to speak up and risk being harassed.”
During the festival, he also called for people to act “without violence, but with great passion and determination”, urging film fans and the audience to organise, protest, vote, and “show our strength”.
In other news, Billy Joel has insisted that “I’m not dying”.
NEWS
Jacob Alon recently opened up to NME about collaborating with longtime inspiration Kae Tempest, while also sharing why they continue to admire artists who speak openly on political and social issues.
The Scottish singer songwriter spoke with NME backstage at the Ivor Novellos last Thursday, May 21, where they picked up both the Rising Star award and Best Song Musically and Lyrically for ‘Don’t Fall Asleep’.
The recognition follows a huge year for Alon, who also earned the Critics’ Choice Award at the 2026 BRITs and became the first Scottish artist to win BBC Music Introducing’s Artist of the Year title.
The success arrives alongside the release of their highly praised debut album ‘In Limerance’, which came out last year and led to a support slot on Kae Tempest’s recent ‘Self-Titled’ tour. During those shows, the pair performed a moving rendition of George Michael’s ‘Freedom’ together. Speaking backstage at the Ivors, Alon also confirmed that they have recently been in the studio with Tempest working on new music.
“Kae is one of my absolute heroes,” they said. “We’ve been in the studio this week actually, writing together. I’ve never felt closer to another creative mind before.”
Although Alon avoided revealing too much about the collaboration, they described the experience as “the biggest privilege to witness his genius and to be in the presence of something raw and beautiful”.
They went on to say they are “really excited for the world to witness” the music they have been creating together.
The ‘Of Amber’ artist also spoke with NME about the importance of using their platform to stand up for causes they care deeply about. In recent months, Alon held a Palestinian flag during the BRITs and appeared at the Trans Mission event in London, where they defended those being “scapegoated by people who want to distract everyone from the real problems in society”.
“I’m endlessly inspired by those that use their voices and their platforms to speak out about what matters. I’m trying to do that myself,” Alon explained to NME. “It’s not easy to know what the right thing to say is sometimes, but I think the effort made to do that is always worthwhile.”
The remarks echo comments Alon previously shared with NME at the BRITs earlier this year, where they said they believe “music is important and can make a difference”, while also teasing a brighter direction for future releases compared to their emotional and introspective debut album.
“Going into making something new, it’s already different. It’s a different place to create from because now I know what’s out there,” they shared, joking that the next era may lean into punk influences and that all the praise might finally go to their head.
Later this summer, Alon is set to join the packed line up for Lewis Capaldi’s headline performances at BST Hyde Park. The concerts take place on Saturday July 11 and Sunday July 12, with Conan Gray, The Vaccines, Absolutely, Nieve Ella and more also appearing across the weekend. Find any remaining tickets here.
At the 2026 Ivor Novellos, other major winners included CMAT for Best Album, Fraser T Smith and Kae Tempest for Best Contemporary Song, and Sam Fender taking home Songwriter Of The Year.
Rosalía was named International Songwriter Of The Year, while Radiohead’s Thom Yorke received the Academy Fellowship award presented by Harry Styles. George Michael was also honored posthumously with the Academy Fellowship award.
