How do I remove my email address from my iMessage list

My imessage settings has both my phone number and email address listed but only my email is checked off. When I click on the info "i" it has the option to remove from list, but when I do, I get a pop up that reads "the email address cannot be removed". I tried turning off and on the iMessaging but nothing seems to work. It states underneath "start new conversations from: (my phone number)" but where is states "you can be reached by imessage at", my phone number is grayed out and I cannot click on it to change it.