Uptown Girl: Christie Brinkley's memoir opens up about marriage to Billy Joel and personal struggles

Brinkley shares intimate details about her marriage to Billy Joel, past heartbreaks, and life lessons in her memoir.

Christie Brinkley is reflecting on her life’s triumphs and heartbreaks in her new memoir Uptown Girl, named after the hit song Billy Joel famously wrote about her.

In an interview with Page Six, the 71-year-old model shared emotional details about her marriage to Joel, revealing that his struggles with alcohol ultimately ended their relationship. Brinkley, who was married to Joel from 1985 to 1994, described their time together as filled with love and adventure, calling him a soulmate. However, she detailed in her book that Joel’s drinking led to troubling incidents, including him disappearing for days and acting erratically. She recalled instances like Joel missing their daughter Alexa Ray’s fifth birthday and a Thanksgiving meal, and once becoming destructive during a drunken outburst in Hawaii. Brinkley ultimately asked for a divorce after a particularly alarming episode at their East Hamptons home.

Despite the pain, Brinkley said she still holds Joel in high regard. She noted that he encouraged her to share her story openly. “Leaving Billy wasn’t easy for me,” she said, adding that their separation was necessary for her well-being. Joel, now 75, has since addressed his struggles publicly and is currently married to Alexis Roderick.

Brinkley’s memoir also recounts her near-fatal helicopter crash in 1994 and her challenging romantic history. Before Joel, she married artist Jean François Allaux and endured the tragic loss of boyfriend Olivier Chandon de Brailles. Following her divorce from Joel, Brinkley married Rick Taubman, a relationship she now describes as emotionally and financially exploitative. Her fourth marriage, to architect Peter Cook, ended publicly amid allegations of infidelity.

Beyond her personal relationships, Brinkley spoke about her children, expressing pride in their resilience and encouraging them to forge their own paths without relying on their family name. She also discussed a past scare involving her eldest daughter Alexa Ray, who suffered a health crisis after a breakup, an experience Brinkley said brought her and Joel together momentarily during a difficult time.

Today, Brinkley continues modeling, runs her fashion brand TWRHLL, and owns her wine label Bellissima. Reflecting on her journey, she said, "Life’s adventures come with mistakes and heartbreak, but they ultimately shape who we are."

Brinkley, now living in the Hamptons, remains open to future possibilities, saying, “Never say never” when asked about marriage again.