It was the ultimate 1980s fever dream. You had the quintessential California blonde—all legs, teeth, and sun-kissed hair—and the scruffy, soulful kid from Hicksville who played the piano like his life depended on it. When Christie Brinkley and Billy Joel got together, it wasn’t just a celebrity pairing. It was a cultural collision.
The image of them together is burned into the collective memory of anyone who owned a television in 1983. Christie, dancing in a mechanics' garage in the "Uptown Girl" music video, while Billy—playing a greaser with a heart of gold—tried to keep up. It looked perfect. It looked like the kind of romance that only happens in three-minute pop songs.
But as we’ve learned decades later, the reality was a lot more complicated than a catchy hook.
That "Uptown Girl" Mystery
People always assume "Uptown Girl" was written for Christie. Well, sort of. Honestly, the real story is a bit more of a "right place, right time" situation.
In early 1983, Billy was staying at a hotel in St. Barts. He was recently divorced and, frankly, probably feeling like the luckiest man on earth because he was suddenly surrounded by supermodels. We're talking Christie Brinkley, a young Elle Macpherson, and a then-unknown Whitney Houston.
Billy actually started writing the song as "Uptown Girls" (plural). It was a cheeky nod to his disbelief that a guy like him was suddenly in the orbit of these "Amazonian" women. He was actually dating Elle Macpherson first. But then Christie entered the picture, and the song narrowed down to a singular, iconic muse.
👉 See also: Jaden Newman Leaked OnlyFans: What Most People Get Wrong
By the time they filmed the video, they were a full-blown item. They married on March 23, 1985, on a yacht on the Hudson River. It was the kind of wedding where Paul Simon shows up and everyone thinks the fairy tale is set in stone.
The Cracks in the Porcelain
For a while, they were the "it" couple of the Hamptons. They had their daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, in December 1985. To the public, they were living the dream. But behind the scenes, the "Piano Man" was struggling with the weight of being a global superstar.
Christie has been surprisingly candid lately, especially in her 2025 memoir Uptown Girl. She didn’t hold back. She described a marriage that was often lonely, despite the fame. The biggest issue? Billy’s battle with the bottle.
She famously called alcohol the "other woman" in their marriage. It wasn't about another person; it was about a substance that took Billy away from her and their daughter. In her book, she recalls a "delusional" incident where Billy accused his band of eating his pasta—when he had actually eaten it himself.
"I never wanted to end things with Billy," she told Page Six in a recent interview. "But his drinking was bigger than the both of us."
✨ Don't miss: The Fifth Wheel Kim Kardashian: What Really Happened with the Netflix Comedy
The 1994 Breaking Point
By 1994, the "River of Dreams" had run dry. They divorced that August after nine years of marriage. It wasn't a messy, tabloid-fueled war, though. They managed to do something most celebrity couples fail at: they stayed friends.
Maybe it was for Alexa. Maybe it was because, underneath the supermodel veneer and the rockstar ego, they actually liked each other.
Where Are They Now? (The 2026 Update)
If you go to a Billy Joel concert today, don't be surprised if you see Christie in the front row. In late 2024, during one of his final Madison Square Garden residency shows, Billy pointed her out and sang "Uptown Girl" directly to her. The crowd went wild. It was a moment of pure nostalgia, but also a testament to their enduring bond.
Billy is now 76 and has been happily married to Alexis Roderick since 2015. They have two young daughters, Della Rose and Remy Anne. He’s also reportedly been sober for several years, something he discussed with the Los Angeles Times, noting he just "stopped" a while back.
Christie, now 71, is still the "Uptown Girl" in spirit. She hasn't remarried since her fourth divorce, focusing instead on her business ventures and her sprawling Hamptons garden. She and Billy still get together for "Christmas sing-alongs" at her house. Imagine being a fly on the wall for that.
🔗 Read more: Erik Menendez Height: What Most People Get Wrong
Alexa Ray’s Own Path
Their daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, didn't just inherit the looks; she got the musical DNA too. At 40, she’s a seasoned performer in her own right. She recently released a single called "Riverside Way," which is a bit darker and soul-infused—a departure from her father’s pop-rock roots.
She often performs with her dad, including a memorable duet during his MSG residency. She’s stayed close to both parents, often acting as the bridge that keeps the "blended family" together.
The Takeaway: More Than a Music Video
The story of Christie Brinkley and Billy Joel is a reminder that you can't judge a relationship by its highlight reel. The 1980s gave us the "perfect" version, but the 2020s gave us the real one: messy, difficult, but ultimately respectful.
- Friendship is the foundation. Even after a "devastating" divorce, they prioritized their connection as co-parents and friends.
- Muses change, but the art remains. "Uptown Girl" might have started as a joke about three models, but it became the definitive anthem of their era.
- Honesty matters. Christie’s decision to speak openly about the role of addiction in their marriage provides a nuanced look at why even "perfect" couples fall apart.
If you're looking to revisit the magic, watch the HBO documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes. It features both of them reflecting on their time together with a surprising amount of warmth. It’s clear that while they couldn't stay married, they'll always be in each other's corner.
To see what they're up to lately, you can follow Christie Brinkley’s Instagram for glimpses of their family gatherings or check out Alexa Ray Joel’s latest music on streaming platforms to see how the legacy continues.