In her long-awaited memoir Uptown Girl, Christie Brinkley finally offers a raw, unfiltered look at her high-profile marriage to Billy Joel. Known to the world as one of the most iconic supermodels of all time, Brinkley lived in the spotlight during her whirlwind romance with the legendary musician. While the pair seemed like a fairytale couple to the public, the reality behind the scenes was far from glamorous. At 71, Brinkley is sharing her truth, which is not just one of a failed marriage but of personal evolution, and the cost of living under constant public scrutiny while trying to hold a marriage together.
Brinkley and Joel met in the early ‘80s, both being at the peak of their careers. They got married in 1985 and had a daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, the following year. For a while, their union seemed to thrive, filled with adventures and creative collaborations; Joel even wrote the 1983 hit “Uptown Girl” about her. Sadly, this reality was riddled with emotional turmoil, largely due to Joel’s struggles with alcohol. Brinkley honestly recounted how the cracks in their seemingly perfect marriage widened over time, eventually resulting in a divorce that would shape the course of both their lives.
Christie Brinkley pulls back the curtain on her marriage to Billy Joel
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Brinkley’s memoir details the beginning of what seemed like a fairy-tale romance, but behind-the-scenes her relationship with Billy Joel took a toll on her. She recalled the joyful moments like impromptu piano sessions, whirlwind travels, and the rush of new love that covered Joel’s frequent disappearances.
During their daughter’s fifth birthday, he went missing for hours, and Brinkley’s panic grew into full-blown dread as she imagined the worst. Later, he would actually crash his car into a tree in 2003, eerily validating her fears. She admitted that the panic stayed with her.
The marriage also suffered repeated emotional strains caused by Billy Joel’s drinking. Brinkley recounted one alarming moment during a drunken meltdown in their hotel room over something as mundane as pasta. She details how he acted delusional that night, which was the turning point. The next day, she asked for a divorce.
The mother of three clarified that it was not a decision taken lightly, but rather the result of years spent grappling with the destructive presence of alcohol in their lives. In her words, booze was the other woman who made her feel frustrated and lonely during their marriage.
Life after Christie Brinkley’s divorce from Billy Joel
Despite everything, Brinkley remains surprisingly compassionate toward Joel. Although she acknowledges the pain he caused, she also appreciates the deep bond they shared and still share, especially as co-parents to Alexa Ray. She said she will continue to love him as the father of her firstborn, with whom she spent her formative years.
Even after their separation, Joel stood by her after she survived a near-fatal helicopter crash in 1994; however, she felt heartbroken again when she overheard him tell someone he was not going back to her.
Brinkley believes her story highlights the toll of addiction not just on the individual but on everyone around them. She explained from her perspective that someone with a drinking addiction cannot remember what they did, but the other person knows what happened.
Her words serve as a sobering reminder of the damage caused by substance abuse. Although Joel is now sober and remarried, she noted that her story is not to seek revenge or sympathy, but is simply giving an honest perspective and reclaiming her voice while understanding her journey on her own terms.