Billy Joel Marries His Uptown Girl

1985

Billy Joel marries the "Uptown Girl" Christie Brinkley. They remain married for nine years.

Two years after Brinkley teaches dance steps to a begrudging Joel on the set of his "Uptown Girl" music video, which cast him as a mechanic opposite Brinkley as the title character, the singer and the supermodel tie the knot aboard a yacht in New York Harbor. It's the second marriage for both: Joel was previously wed to Elizabeth Weber Small from 1973 to 1982, while Brinkley was married to French artist Jean-François Allaux from 1973 to 1981. Brinkley, who stole Joel's heart from his other supermodel girlfriend Elle Macpherson, will appear in several more of her husband's videos, including "Keeping The Faith," "All About Soul," "The River Of Dreams," "A Matter Of Trust," and "Leningrad." She'll also inspire tunes like "Christie Lee" and "All About Soul," and will even paint the cover art for Joel's River Of Dreams album. Their most important collaboration, however, arrives on December 29, 1989: baby daughter, Alex Ray. After nine years, Joel's constant touring (along with a rumor that he was unfaithful) strains the marriage and leads to an amicable split. They announce in a joint statement: "We have been there to support each other during critical times and expect to be there for each other in the future."