Christie Brinkley shares heartfelt tribute to ex Billy Joel after his NPH diagnosis, wishing him a full recovery: “You’re our Piano Man!”
Christie Brinkley is showing her enduring support for ex-husband Billy Joel following his recent health news.
On Saturday, May 24, the 71-year-old supermodel took to Instagram to share a touching tribute to Joel, 76, after he revealed a diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH)—a neurological condition caused by excess cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. Joel shared the news publicly the day before and announced he would be canceling all upcoming concerts to focus on his recovery.
Brinkley posted a video featuring clips of herself and daughter Sailor Brinkley Cook (whose father is Peter Cook) attending one of Joel’s concerts. Alongside the video, she wrote a heartfelt message filled with warmth, nostalgia, and admiration.
“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 you, when I came across this clip from a recent concert. It made me laugh … but it also reminded me of all the joy you create, and all the sensational sing-alongs you’ve [led].”
Brinkley went on to praise Joel’s ability to connect with audiences:
“You turn an arena of strangers into a living room full of friends as we all sway in unison,” she wrote. “I’m sure I’m speaking for everyone in that room when I say please take good care of yourself, we all want you back in that white hot spotlight, you’re OUR piano man. And we’re always in the mood for your melodies and we all hope you’re feeling alright!”
She ended the message with a declaration of love on behalf of their family:
“We love you — the kids, me and an arena or two!”
Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley were married in 1985 after meeting two years earlier. They welcomed their daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, in the same year. Though they divorced in 1994, they have remained on amicable terms, often celebrating their shared parenting of Alexa.
In her recently released memoir, Uptown Girl, Brinkley reflected on her first meeting with Joel. The two crossed paths at a dive motel bar in St. Barts, where she was struck not by his fame but his authenticity:
“He definitely didn’t look like a rock star,” she recalled, describing his sunburned appearance and the “Long Island bubble” hairstyle. “But he made me laugh.”
Speaking to PEOPLE, Brinkley opened up further about their relationship:
“We laughed like you couldn’t believe,” she said. “But also he was so sensitive and he did all the old-fashioned things, the flowers, the notes and the poems and the songs. He was going into the recording studio and he was writing all these songs and saying, ‘This one’s for you.’ How could I not fall in love with him?”
Watching him perform live also brought extra magic to their romance:
“When I heard him sing on stage, I found myself undeniably attached to this physically hot and charismatic man,” Brinkley added.
Joel, who also shares daughters Della Rose, 9, and Remy Anne, 7, with current wife Alexis Roderick, is now focusing on physical therapy and has been advised by his doctors to rest and avoid performing while he recovers from NPH.
Just hours before Brinkley’s post, their daughter Alexa, 39, also honored her father on Instagram. She shared a poignant black-and-white photo of a father holding his daughter’s hand, writing:
“We love you and we got you, Pop!”
Alexa thanked fans for their support and included lyrics from Joel’s tender ballad “Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)”, which he wrote for her in 1993.
“The genuine care, empathy, and concern from everyone means so much to him … it means a lot to me, too,” she wrote.
As Joel takes time away from the stage, the love from his family and fans continues to surround him—just as Brinkley said, he’ll always be our Piano Man.
Source PEOPLE
