Christie Brinkley and Billy Joel were seen together in New York City around 1993. Getty Images
Christie Brinkley recently shared the story behind the end of her nine-year marriage to Billy Joel. They married in 1985, but by 1994, things were falling apart. Brinkley said Joel’s drinking became a big problem. “I don’t think it’s a secret that his drinking got pretty bad,” she said. She explained how his drinking made him forget what he did and how it hurt others.
Brinkley said she often pretended to be asleep when Joel came home drunk. “I didn’t wanna see him in that condition anymore,” she said. The stress was too much. One night, she told him she couldn’t take it anymore and planned to leave with their daughter, Alexa. Joel’s response was cold: “Yeah, fine, go.”
The Impact of Touring
Joel’s long River of Dreams tour kept him away from home for two years. Brinkley said their relationship changed. “Our relationship went from lots of fun … to his work consuming him,” she said. Even when she joined him on tour, she often felt alone because he would unwind late at night with his band. She wondered, “What am I even doing here?”
Brinkley grew sad and confused. “I can’t be lonely just me and Alexa in this big ol’ house,” she said. The home was once full of love and music, but now things were falling apart. Joel also felt the pain. “I cared deeply about her, but I was not able to be at home,” he said. “It was a very sad time for me.”
Pain and Regret
Joel said the divorce taught him that “love is not concrete.” He said, “You feel like it is, but there are things eating away at it.” Brinkley said she “tried” and “wanted it to work,” but it didn’t. In her memoir, she wrote, “Booze was the other woman,” and Joel seemed to prefer drinking over their marriage.
She also recalled painful moments, like when Joel got angry over missing pasta or when she said he cheated with a caterer after a concert. Despite everything, Brinkley and Joel remain friendly now. She recently posted support for Joel after he revealed a brain disorder diagnosis. “You’re OUR piano man,” she wrote. “We all hope you’re feeling alright! We love you.”
Legacy Beyond Trouble
Christie Brinkley starred in Joel’s “Uptown Girl” video and shared many happy times with him before the problems. Their story shows how fame and personal struggles can clash, even for big stars. Though their marriage ended, both have moved on with respect for each other.
