Christie Brinkley is opening up about the painful end of her marriage to Billy Joel. In HBO's documentary, Billy Joel: And So It Goes, Brinkley reveals the struggles that led to their divorce after nine years together.
The River of Dreams Tour and Excessive Drinking
Brinkley explains that Joel's extensive touring and increasing alcohol consumption created a significant strain on their relationship. The two-year River of Dreams tour kept them apart, and Joel's drinking habits became a major issue. "I don’t think it’s a secret that his drinking got pretty bad," Brinkley admits in the documentary. "And he couldn’t really remember what he did when he was drinking, and so he didn’t really know how he could hurt people.”
Hiding From the Pain
The situation became so difficult that Brinkley would often pretend to be asleep when Joel came home. She simply "didn’t wanna see him in that condition" anymore. The breaking point came during an argument when Brinkley declared she couldn't take it anymore and would be taking their daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, back to New York. Joel's response? "Yeah, fine, go."
Love Isn't Concrete
The divorce taught Joel a harsh lesson about love. "You feel like it is [concrete], but there are things eating away at it. And, in the end, it all catches up. And it’s hard. And I was so devastated,” he confessed. Brinkley shared the sentiment, stating, "I tried. I wanted it to work. I knew how lucky I was having music and all of that, but...it just didn’t work.”
A Whirlwind Romance Turned Sour
Joel also reflected on the early days of their romance. Meeting in St. Barts in 1983, they quickly connected and began dating. Joel described it as a "whirlwind romance" and admitted feeling out of his league dating a supermodel. He wrote many songs for her, inspired by her beauty and presence. However, the fairytale faded as Joel struggled with balancing his career and family life, leading to the eventual breakdown of their marriage.
The documentary offers a candid look at the highs and lows of a high-profile relationship, revealing the complexities and challenges even the most seemingly perfect couples face.