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Between 1985 and 1994, Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley stood as one of the most iconic power couples in popular culture.
Christie Brinkley, renowned as the world’s preeminent supermodel, and Billy Joel, the celebrated singer-songwriter behind numerous timeless hits, captivated audiences globally. Their relationship was the subject of much admiration and intrigue.
However, their marriage concluded in a way that left lingering questions, and now, Christie is candidly sharing her insights about the factors that contributed to their separation.
American model Christie Brinkley, wearing a silver jacket, and her husband, American singer-songwriter and musician Billy Joel, wearing a checked shirt beneath a black jacket, attend a party to celebrate the release of ‘Biograph,’ held at the Whitney Museum of American Art, in New York City, New York, 13th November 1985. (Photo by Vinnie Zuffanate/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)Christie Brinkley Reveals That Billy Joel’s Alcoholism Played a Major Role in Their Divorce
In a recent excerpt from her new memoir featured in People magazine, the iconic fashion model Christie Brinkley openly discusses how her marriage to Billy Joel unraveled, attributing the primary cause to his struggles with alcoholism.
“I want to be clear; I never wished for our relationship to end. However, his drinking was a force that overshadowed everything,” she explained.
“Ultimately, when a relationship ceases to function as you desire, it leads to an overwhelming sense of loneliness because no matter how hard you try, making it work becomes an insurmountable challenge, and that reality is deeply painful,” she added, reflecting on her emotional journey.
Billy Joel has been candid about his history with substance abuse, sharing his experiences in multiple interviews. In 2023, he mentioned to the Los Angeles Times that he had stopped drinking “a couple of years ago.”
“It wasn’t part of any major AA initiative; I simply reached a point where I had enough. The feeling of being excessively intoxicated no longer appealed to me, and it introduced more complications into my life than I needed,” he elaborated, adding:
Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley. (Photo by Diane Freed / Liaison Agency)“I no longer feel that need. In the past, after performing, I would be so energized and full of adrenaline that I sought something to help me unwind and fall asleep. However, I’ve come to realize that when you rely on alcohol to sleep, what you’re really doing is just passing out, not truly resting,” he commented thoughtfully.
Since her separation from Joel, Christie Brinkley has entered into two more marriages, one with real estate developer Ricky Taubman, and another with architect Peter Cook. Unfortunately, both of these unions also ended in divorce.
In other reflections within her memoir, Brinkley reminisced fondly about her early relationship with Joel.
“We shared laughter like you wouldn’t believe. He was incredibly sensitive and always made wonderful gestures, such as bringing flowers, writing notes, crafting poems, and composing songs for me,” she shared, expressing the depth of their connection.
Billy Joel and his wife, Christie Brinkley, pose for photographers during a visit to the White House 19 October 1993. (PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP via Getty Images)“He would spend time in the recording studio, writing heartfelt songs and saying, ‘This one’s for you.’ How could I not be captivated by him?” Brinkley elaborated, noting that while their paths rarely cross these days, their relationship remains amicable.
“He primarily resides in Florida, so our encounters are less frequent than when he lived in Sag Harbor,” she explained.
“However, when he comes to visit [daughter] Alexa, he always makes it a point to drop by and say hello,” she added, highlighting the warmth that still exists between them.
When asked how Joel responded to her memoir, Christie shared, “Alexa filled him in on the details, and he said, ‘Sounds good, no problem.’”
Thus, even though it took time to navigate their complex history, it seems that Christie Brinkley and Billy Joel have successfully established a stable and positive rapport in their current relationship.
