Billy Joel Reflects on Heartbreak After Divorce from Christie Brinkley
In a recent interview, Billy Joel opened up about the emotional toll of his divorce from model Christie Brinkley. Their marriage lasted nine years before ending in 1994, and Joel described the experience as “devastating.”
The singer, known for his hit song “Uptown Girl,” admitted that he learned love can be fragile. “I realized love is not concrete. You think it is, but there are things that chip away at it, and eventually, it all catches up,” he shared. This reflection highlights the complexity of relationships, especially for public figures.
Brinkley, expressing her own sadness, explained that despite their love, the pressures of Joel’s career often left her feeling alone. “I wanted it to work. I knew how lucky I was, but it just didn’t work,” she said. The couple welcomed their daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, shortly after marrying in 1985, but as time passed, they found themselves drifting apart.
Brinkley described the emotional distance that grew due to Joel’s busy schedule. “If I traveled with him, he was often too exhausted after shows to connect,” she recalled. This left her and their daughter feeling lonely in what was meant to be a lively household filled with love.
Joel, grappling with his own challenges, acknowledged that the situation was particularly hard for him. He pointed out that it was a very tough time, balancing his family life with extensive touring commitments.
Both Joel and Brinkley feel the impacts of the breakup extended to their child. Joel reflected on his own childhood experience with divorce, recalling how it affected him. He emphasized the need for stability for Alexa, saying she needed to be assured of his presence.
The story takes a somber turn as Brinkley revealed that Joel struggled with alcohol during their marriage. She recounted feeling the need to hide from him when he returned home drunk, which added to the strain on their relationship.
Eventually, Brinkley made the difficult decision to leave. “One night, during an argument, I said I couldn’t take it anymore,” she recalled, noting his indifferent response at the time.
In conclusion, Joel summed up the reality of love by saying, “True love isn’t always floating on clouds.” He described love as often intertwined with pain, recognizing its complexities.
After his marriage to Brinkley, Joel has remarried twice, and today shares a family with his current wife, Alexis Roderick. As fans await the second part of his documentary, “Billy Joel: And So it Goes,” they are reminded that even stars face deeply personal struggles in their pursuit of happiness and love.
