Billy Joel Talks about Ex-Wife Christie Brinkley in New Documentary

In part two of “Billy Joel: And So It Goes,” which premiered July 25, 2025, music icon Billy Joel opened up about his past relationship with supermodel Christie Brinkley.

The pair — married for nine years — revisited the highs and lows of their time together, shedding light on what once was and what ultimately came undone.

Billy, 76, reflected on first meeting Christie in 1983 while vacationing in St. Barts. After realizing they both lived in New York, they went on their first date — a Beach Boys concert — and began a relationship that led to what he described as a productive period for him.

“Here I am dating this beautiful supermodel and… me? I’m from Hicksville,” he said of their early days. “What am I doing with her? What’s she doing with me? But that was a very productive time for me.” He added, “I wrote a lot of songs for her. She was a muse.”

Christie recalled the early years as a “whirlwind romance” that was “just so much fun,” but pointed to a turning point in 1989 with the release of Billy’s single “I Go to Extremes.”

She said the song captured his duality — torn between being a devoted husband and a restless artist who often slipped away to drink at night.

That same year, the singer filed a $90 million lawsuit against his former manager, forcing Billy to tour more aggressively to recoup losses. The added strain, he said, deepened the cracks at home.

“I was in a relationship with someone who I cared deeply about. But I was not able to be at home,” he shared. “And in the end, it all catches up. It’s hard. I was so devastated.”

Christie described their final fight, saying, “He said, ‘Yeah, fine, go.’ I tried. I wanted it to work… But it just didn’t work.” The couple divorced in 1994. However, despite going their separate ways, the pair have proven that there is no bad blood between them.

On May 23, 2025, Billy announced that he had been diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH), a brain condition most common in people over 65.

The statement, shared via Instagram, explained that recent concerts had worsened his symptoms, which include problems with hearing, vision, and balance. All scheduled concerts were canceled, and he began physical therapy under medical supervision.

The next day, on May 24, Christie posted a tribute on Instagram. The video clip showed her and her daughter, Sailor, attending one of Billy’s concerts. Her caption read, “Dear Billy, The whole Brinkley gang is sending you lots of love and good wishes for a full and speedy recovery [sic].”

She explained that the post was initially inspired by her search for photos of Billy with their daughter, Alexa Ray Joel. During that search, the model came across the video clip, which made her laugh but also reminded her of the energy and joy he brings to his audiences.

“It also reminded me of all the joy you create, and all the sensational sing a longs you’ve lead … you turn an arena of strangers into a living room full of friends as we all sway in unison [sic],” she continued. She emphasized how many people are rooting for his recovery and expressed a collective desire to see him return to the stage.

“We all want you back in that white hot spotlight, you’re OUR piano man. And we’re always in the mood for your melodies And we all hope you’re feeling alright! We Love You, the kids, me and a whole bunch of full arenas [sic],” she concluded.

Responses to her post quickly followed. Many praised the gesture, with one commenter writing, “That’s class.” Another added, “Very classy.” Some saw her post as evidence of lasting goodwill, such as one netizen who commented, “That’s because he was never cruel or mean to her. He respected her. So she is paying it back to him.”

Another shared, “My heart goes out to Billy and his family during this difficult time. It’s beautiful to see Christie showing such grace and support—true love and compassion don’t end with divorce. Wishing him strength, healing, and all the love he needs right now.”

One person wrote, “Heartfelt support from Christie Brinkley shows the lasting bond they share wishing Billy Joel a smooth recovery.” However, not all comments were supportive. A netizen asked, “Why does she need to use the socials to post this? She can’t text him?”

Another wrote, “I think she plagiarized that.” Some viewed her post through the lens of her recent press appearances, such as one person who commented, “I recently saw her interviewed about her new book, entitled Uptown Girl. She seemed like she still loves him.”

Another commented, “When a woman truly loves a man, she will use her voice to speak truth, wellness and compassionate justice about the one she loves the most ❤️Christy is 💯🇺🇸❤️.”

Hours before Christie’s message, Alexa had also posted a tribute to her dad. Alongside a black-and-white image of a father and daughter holding hands, she wrote, “SOUND UP 🕊️ We love you and we got you, Pop!”

“My Dad is the strongest and most resilient man I’ve ever known… and he’s entirely committed to making a full recovery with ongoing physical-therapy treatments as he continues to regain his strength,” she added.

She ended her message with lyrics that speak to the enduring nature of love and music, and signed off with, “🕊️ All My Love, Alexa Ray.”

Billy’s diagnosis came three months after a public onstage fall in February 2025. During a concert, he theatrically tossed a microphone stand before stumbling backward and collapsing.

The moment, captured in a viral video, led to speculation about his health even before the official announcement.

The diagnosis — NPH — develops when cerebrospinal fluid builds up inside or around the brain, compressing brain tissue.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, symptoms usually appear gradually over three to six months and can include walking difficulties, urinary incontinence, and cognitive decline.

Though its symptoms resemble those of dementia, NPH can sometimes be reversed with medical intervention if diagnosed early enough.

Christie and Billy married on March 23, 1985. They only had one child and began building their dream home in the Hamptons. By the early 1990s, their careers and personal pressures had begun to take a toll on their relationship before their eventual separation.

Christie has recently revisited their history in her memoir, “Uptown Girl,” released in April 2025. In the book, she wrote about the ups and downs of their marriage. The title was drawn from the hit song Billy wrote, which became synonymous with her public image.

In the book, the model revealed that the song had initially been written for a “mystery girl” her singer ex had been talking to on the phone, but once their relationship began, he finished the song in her honor. Their romance was captured in the music video for the hit song, where she made a cameo appearance.

Christie reflected on the joyful moments they shared — singing together, dancing in the kitchen, and finding humor in everyday life. However, she also described how emotional distance began to form, even while they lived under the same roof.

She acknowledged that it was difficult to write about his drinking and rumored affairs, saying, “The hardest thing to include was criticism of Billy, because I do care about my friendship with him.” But alongside those memories, the model also described the emotional distance that eventually set in.

She wrote of feeling “lonely, despite the fact that he was right there.” In a moment after their separation, she recalled boarding a helicopter in Colorado for a heli-skiing trip and wondering if Billy would be worried about her.

In an excerpt obtained by People magazine, the model explained that she never truly wanted the marriage to end, writing, “To be clear, I never wanted to end things with Billy. But his drinking was bigger than the both of us.”

She later described the separation as deeply painful, calling it “the worst kind of loneliness because you just can’t make it work together and that’s painful.”

As Billy continues his recovery, Christie’s message and their daughter’s tribute remain as public displays of support.