Christie Brinkley: A Life of Resilience and Reflection
With experiences worthy of several lifetimes, Christie Brinkley has lived through enough drama and triumphs to fill at least two books. As an iconic figure in the modeling world, Brinkley not only survived a harrowing helicopter crash but also bravely boarded another to comfort her daughter during a medical crisis. Her personal life, marked by four marriages, has been punctuated with profound heartbreak.
Among her former husbands, Brinkley, now 71, retains a close bond with her second spouse, Billy Joel. In a nod to their shared past, she titled her upcoming memoir “Uptown Girl” after his 1983 hit penned in her honor. The couple were married from 1985 until 1994 and share a daughter, Alexa Ray, who is now 39 years old. Despite the enduring connection, Brinkley candidly shares with Page Six that Joel’s struggle with alcohol was the catalyst for their split.
Reflecting on their relationship, Brinkley considers Joel a soulmate, adding, “It was an amazing time in my life. We were like nomads, gypsies, constantly exploring the world through our careers.” However, Joel’s drinking spells painted a different picture, with Brinkley recalling the time he vanished for days around Alexa Ray’s fifth birthday, sparking fears of dire outcomes.
The breaking point arrived during a rehearsal with his band at their East Hamptons home when a drunk Joel absurdly accused them of eating his pasta, only to find he was the one who cleaned the plate. Despite clinging to their marriage and consulting numerous self-help books and specialists, Brinkley writes that Joel’s drinking problem was insurmountable. She describes alcohol as “the other woman” in their relationship.
Though Joel, now 75, first entered rehab in 1992 to face his demons and again in 2005 following a relapse, he shared with the Los Angeles Times in 2023 that he quit drinking a couple of years ago. Brinkley’s love and respect for Joel remain unwavering. “He’s the father of my firstborn, and I cherish those formative years we spent,” she shared. However, Brinkley realized she could no longer continue the marriage, despite her enduring affection for him.
Before drafting her memoir, Brinkley consulted Joel, who encouraged her to tell her story freely, accepting both the good and bad. “Leaving Billy was a difficult decision,” she confides, “and it’s hard to criticize someone I greatly admire.” Nonetheless, she believes her portrayal is not harsh.
An episode from another relationship surfaces in the book, where Brinkley recounts former fiancé Richard Taubman requesting $75,000 post-engagement, culminating in unpaid “loans” amounting to $2 million by the end of their brief seven-month marriage. These stories, reflecting resilience and poignant introspection, form the heart of Brinkley’s forthcoming memoir, intriguing her many fans.