The Piano Man's Muses: Where Are Billy Joel's Three Ex-Wives Now? (2025 Update)

Contents

Few rock stars have a romantic history as interwoven with their music as Billy Joel, the legendary "Piano Man." For decades, his three former wives—Elizabeth Weber, Christie Brinkley, and Katie Lee—have been the muses and subjects of some of his most timeless and beloved songs, forever etching them into the fabric of rock and roll history. As of December 21, 2025, the lives of these three influential women are more active and in the public eye than ever, from a supermodel releasing a highly anticipated memoir to a former manager breaking her decades-long silence, offering a fresh perspective on the man behind the music.

The curiosity surrounding Billy Joel's relationships endures because the women he married are icons in their own right, each a powerhouse in their respective fields of modeling, culinary arts, and business. Their post-divorce lives continue to evolve, marked by new careers, second marriages, and a surprising level of continued, albeit distant, connection with the iconic musician.

The Complete Biography: Billy Joel's Three Ex-Wives

Billy Joel has been married four times, with his current wife being Alexis Roderick, whom he wed in 2015. However, his three previous marriages—each lasting approximately a decade—produced the most public interest and musical inspiration. Here is a detailed look at the women who were once the center of the Piano Man's world.

  • Elizabeth Weber (First Wife)
    • Full Name: Elizabeth Ann Weber Small
    • Born: October 1942 (approximate)
    • Marriage Dates: 1973–1982
    • Role in Joel's Life: First wife and also served as his manager during his critical early career, including the creation of the album Piano Man.
    • Children: None from this marriage.
    • Musical Inspiration: The subject of some of Joel's most famous songs, including "She's Always a Woman" and "The Stranger."
  • Christie Brinkley (Second Wife)
    • Full Name: Christie Lee Brinkley
    • Born: February 2, 1954, in Monroe, Michigan.
    • Marriage Dates: 1985–1994
    • Role in Joel's Life: Supermodel, actress, and entrepreneur. The muse for the hit song "Uptown Girl."
    • Children: One daughter, Alexa Ray Joel (born 1985), who is a singer-songwriter.
    • Current Career Focus: Supermodel, entrepreneur with her own beauty and wine brands, and author.
  • Katie Lee (Third Wife)
    • Full Name: Katherine "Katie" Lee Biegel (née Lee)
    • Born: September 14, 1981, in Huntington, West Virginia.
    • Marriage Dates: 2004–2010
    • Role in Joel's Life: Culinary expert, cookbook author, and television food critic.
    • Children: None from this marriage.
    • Current Career Focus: Co-host of Food Network's The Kitchen, author, and host of Beach Bites with Katie Lee.

Elizabeth Weber: Breaking Decades of Silence and The Stranger's Muse

Elizabeth Weber remains the most enigmatic of Billy Joel's ex-wives, largely due to her famously private nature following their 1982 divorce. Their relationship began dramatically, with Weber being married to Joel's bandmate, Jon Small, when she and Joel first became involved. She later became Joel's manager, a period marked by both immense creative success and personal turmoil, which reportedly included a period where she took a significant portion of his earnings, leading to financial strain for the singer.

In a surprising and highly anticipated move, Elizabeth Weber has recently re-emerged into the public sphere, breaking her decades-long silence. Her decision to speak out was partly in connection with a recent HBO documentary focusing on Joel’s life, where she was a central figure in his early creative struggles and personal pain.

The Songs She Inspired: A Deep Dive into Joel's Catalog

Weber's influence on Billy Joel's music is profound, inspiring some of his most critically acclaimed work, particularly from his 1977 album, The Stranger.

  • "She's Always a Woman": This iconic ballad was written to defend Weber against critics who viewed her as cold or ruthless due to her role as his manager in a male-dominated industry. The song praises her complexity, acknowledging both her strength and vulnerability.
  • "The Stranger": The title track of the same album is also widely believed to be inspired by Weber, reflecting the hidden, private side of a person known publicly by a different persona.
  • "She's Got a Way": One of Joel's earliest love songs, released in 1971, is also attributed to the early stages of his relationship with Weber.

Today, Weber's relationship with Joel is described as "friendly but not close," according to recent interviews. Despite the tumultuous history, her recent public appearances have offered fans a rare, fresh look at the woman who was the original muse for the "Piano Man."

Christie Brinkley: The 'Uptown Girl' Releasing a Major Memoir in 2025

Christie Brinkley's marriage to Billy Joel (1985–1994) was one of the highest-profile unions in the 1980s, uniting a musical icon with a supermodel icon. She was famously the muse for the global hit "Uptown Girl."

Today, Brinkley continues her career as a model, actress, and successful entrepreneur, running her own businesses in the beauty and wine industries.

The Highly Anticipated 'Uptown Girl' Memoir

The most significant and current news about Christie Brinkley is the upcoming release of her memoir, titled *Uptown Girl*. This book is scheduled to be released on April 29, 2025, and is expected to be a major publishing event.

The memoir promises to offer a thoroughly engaging glimpse into her colorful life, detailing her decades-long career, her 25-year contract with Cover Girl (the longest running cosmetics contract for a model), and her personal life, including reflections on her time with Billy Joel and the pressures of the modeling industry.

Brinkley and Joel share one daughter, singer-songwriter Alexa Ray Joel, who was born in 1985. They maintain a famously amicable co-parenting relationship, often appearing together at family events, a testament to their enduring respect for one another.

Katie Lee Biegel: Culinary Star, New Marriage, and Motherhood

Katie Lee, now known professionally as Katie Lee Biegel, was Billy Joel's third wife (2004–2010). The age difference—Joel was 55 and Lee was 23 when they married—made their relationship a frequent topic of discussion.

Since their divorce, Katie Lee has blossomed into a major figure in the culinary world. She is best known for her successful career as a television host and cookbook author, significantly boosting her topical authority in the food space.

A Flourishing Post-Joel Life and New Family

Katie Lee’s life is marked by significant personal and professional growth:

  • Culinary Television Success: She is a popular co-host on the Food Network's daytime show The Kitchen, which has cemented her status as a culinary expert.
  • Second Marriage: She married television producer Ryan Biegel in 2018 in a ceremony in Italy.
  • Motherhood: Katie Lee Biegel and Ryan Biegel welcomed their first child, a daughter named Iris Marion Biegel, in September 2020, following a public journey with fertility struggles.

Her current life is a testament to moving forward, building a new family, and achieving major professional success outside the shadow of her famous ex-husband. The former couple reportedly remain on good terms, a common thread among Joel's ex-wives, who prioritize their shared history and mutual respect.

The Enduring Legacy of Billy Joel's Muses

The stories of Elizabeth Weber, Christie Brinkley, and Katie Lee Biegel are far more than footnotes in the life of a rock legend. They are narratives of powerful women who have navigated the spotlight, inspired timeless music, and forged successful, independent paths. Their influence is not just in the past; it is current, with new memoirs, ongoing television careers, and surprising new details about their private lives emerging in 2025.

While Billy Joel has found happiness with his current wife, Alexis Roderick, with whom he shares two young daughters, Della Rose and Remy Anne Joel, the legacy of his ex-wives endures. From the powerful, business-savvy woman behind the songs "The Stranger" and "She's Always a Woman," to the "Uptown Girl" who continues to defy ageist notions and is set to share her life story, these three women are integral to the complete story of the Piano Man.

billy joel ex wife
billy joel ex wife

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