Christie Brinkley is sending heartfelt support to her ex-husband Billy Joel as he faces a recent health challenge. Following Joel’s revelation that he’s been diagnosed with a brain disorder, Brinkley took to Instagram to share her well-wishes. She posted several sweet clips of herself and their daughter, Alexa Ray, 39, at one of Joel’s concerts.
“Dear Billy, the whole Brinkley gang is sending you lots of love and good wishes for a full and speedy recovery,” she wrote. “I was looking for some cute photos of you and Alexa to send, and I came across this clip from a recent concert. It made me laugh, but also reminded me of all the joy you bring and those amazing singalongs you lead.”
Reflecting on Joel’s talent and his impact on audiences, Brinkley added, “You turn an arena of strangers into a living room full of friends, all swaying in unison. Please take good care of yourself—we all want you back in that white-hot spotlight.”
Brinkley signed off with a touching nod to one of Joel’s most iconic hits: “You’re OUR piano man. And we’re always in the mood for your melodies. We love you.”
Joel, 75, recently canceled all upcoming concert dates after being diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, a brain disorder that’s been causing issues with his hearing, vision, and balance. In a statement shared on his social media, Joel’s team explained that he’s undergoing specialized physical therapy and taking a break from performing to focus on his health.
“Billy is thankful for the excellent care he’s receiving and fully committed to prioritizing his recovery,” the statement read. “He’s grateful for the support from fans during this time and looks forward to the day he can return to the stage.”
Brinkley and Joel, whose marriage famously inspired his song “Uptown Girl,” wed in 1985 and welcomed daughter Alexa Ray the same year. Though they divorced in 1994, Brinkley recently revisited their whirlwind romance in her memoir, Uptown Girl. She fondly recalled the night of her 30th birthday, when Joel serenaded her in front of thousands of fans—a moment she said made them “almost dizzy with love.”
Following their divorce, Brinkley married Richard Taubman and later Peter Cook, with whom she shares two children. Joel, meanwhile, shares two daughters with his current wife, Alexis Roderick.
Source: Entertainment Weekly