Christie Brinkley Survived Early Abuse to Become a Sports Illustrated Cover Model
Christie Brinkley, 71, is an actress, entrepreneur and model who appeared on three consecutive covers of Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue. She owns the TWRHLL clothing line and is the author of the memoir 'Uptown Girl' (Harper Influence), out today. She spoke with Marc Myers.
Corporal punishment was fairly common when I was growing up, but my birth father, Herb, went beyond what was accepted.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
Billy Joel reveals he tried to ‘end it all' with two suicide attempts after affair with best friend's wife
He was an angry young man. In his new documentary, 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes' — which had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on Wednesday night – the piano man, 76, opened up about a dark time in his past. When he was in his early 20s, Joel was in a band called Attila with his then-best friend, Jon Small. 10 Billy Joel and wife Elizabeth Weber circa 1981 in New York City. Getty Images During that time, Joel fell in love with Elizabeth Weber, who was Small's then-wife. Joel attempted suicide over the affair – twice. 'I was just in a lot of pain .. so I just thought I'd end it all,' he said on-screen. 10 Billy Joel performs on stage at the MCG on 10th December 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. WireImage After surviving, he quipped, 'You can't even do yourself in.' The 'Uptown Girl' singer has previously revealed his suicide attempt as early as 1990, but he went into more detail in the documentary. 'Bill and I spent a lot of time together,' Elizabeth shared in the doc. Small recalled that Joel told him, 'I'm in love with your wife.' 10 Billy Joel and drummer Jon Small of the rock band 'Attila' pose for a portrait in 1970. Michael Ochs Archives 'I felt very, very guilty about it. They had a child. I felt like a homewrecker,' Joel said. The 'Vienna' singer added, 'I was just in love with a woman and I got punched in the nose which I deserved. Jon was very upset. I was very upset.' In the fallout, Attila broke up, their friendship ended for a long time, and Joel had a downward spiral. 10 Elizabeth Weber and Sean Weber-Small attend the 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes' Opening Night Premiere at Beacon Theatre on June 04, 2025 in New York City. Getty Images for Tribeca Festival 10 Billy Joel with Elizabeth Weber in 1979. Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images 'I had no place to live. I was sleeping in laundromats and I was depressed I think to the point of almost being psychotic,' he said. The 'Only the Good Die Young' singer added, 'So I figured, 'That's it. I don't want to live anymore.' I was just in a lot of pain and it was sort of like why hang out, tomorrow is going to be just like today is and today sucks. So, I just thought I'd end it all.' His sister, Judy Molinari, was working as a medical assistant at the time and gave him sleeping pills. 10 Billy Joel attends MSG Entertainment and Billy Joel special franchise announcement at Chase Square at Madison Square Garden on June 01, 2023 in New York City. Getty Images 'Billy decided that he was going to take all of them… he was in a coma for days and days and days,' she said in the documentary. She emotionally recalled, 'I went to go see him in the hospital, and he was laying there white as a sheet. I thought that I'd killed him.' The 'We Didn't Start The Fire' hitmaker said that he was 'very selfish' at the time. 10 Billy Joel with his wife Alexis Roderick and daughters Della Rose Joel and Remy Anne Joel attend the 66th GRAMMY Awards at Arena on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. FilmMagic 10 Billy Joel, at home in front of some of his gold discs, New York City, 25th January 1978. Getty Images He recalled waking up in the hospital thinking he wanted to do it again — but this time 'right.' The next time, he drank a bottle of 'lemon Pledge,' Molinari said. Small took him to the hospital, which ultimately caused the two men to mend fences. 10 Billy Joel circa 1969. Redferns 'Even though our friendship was blowing up, Jon saved my life,' Joel said. Small explained, 'He never really said anything to me, the only practical answer I can give as to why Billy took it so hard was because he loved me that much and that it killed him to hurt me that much. Eventually I forgave him.' Following his suicide attempts, Joel got back together with Weber, who went on to become his manager. They were married from 1973 to 1982. She was the first of his four wives. His other exes include Christie Brinkley, Katie Lee, and his current wife, Alexis Roderick, whom he married in 2015. 10 Billy Joel appears on SiriusXM with John Mayer at SiriusXM Studios on October 11, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images for SiriusXM Meanwhile, Small took the high road after Weber inspired Joel's 1971 debut, 'Cold Spring Harbor.' 'You could tell from the lyrics that he was really in love with Elizabeth,' Small said of songs such as 'She's Got a Way.' The music legend was absent from his big night after revealing his shocking brain disorder diagnosis two weeks ago. However, Weber was in attendance. The two-part documentary will premiere on HBO and HBO Max at an unannounced date later this summer. If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Billy Joel's ex-wife Elizabeth Weber speaks out after his brain disorder diagnosis
Billy Joel's first ex-wife, Elizabeth Weber, has broken her silence following the iconic musician's shocking brain disorder diagnosis. The 'Uptown Girl' hitmaker, who was married to Weber from 1973 to 1982, revealed last month that he was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus. Following the diagnosis, Weber reflected on the pair's ill-fated marriage — saying that she always knew the so-called Piano Man would become a star. 'He's worked so hard all of his life,' Weber told E! News at the Tribeca Festival premiere of 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes' in NYC on Wednesday. 'I've never known anybody who worked harder than he did in all those years we were together and working together.' While the 5-time Grammy winner, 76, wasn't in attendance at the glitzy premiere, his wife Alexis Roderick Joel, 43, was there in his place. 'I just want him to be restored to good health so he can enjoy his life and his wife and his children. He earned that,' Weber said of her ex-husband. 'The restoration of his good health is all I really care about.' Although their union crumbled after just seven years, Weber told the outlet that she still admires his work deeply, to the point where she finds it difficult to choose a favorite track. 'There's too many of them, and they're all marvelous,' she said. 'Someone can be in the audience and look at him and say, 'That could be me.'' 'Not everybody can be an unnamed pianist who sings, but everyone thinks that they could do that or be that,' she added. The 'New York State of Mind' musician canceled all his tour dates through next year after he announced his diagnosis. The rare disorder, which reportedly affects about 0.2% of people between the ages of 70 and 80, occurs when cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) builds up inside the skull, presses on the brain and disrupts cognitive functioning. 'Billy Joel has announced that he will be cancelling all scheduled concerts following a recent diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH),' the 'Only the Good Die Young' crooner's team said in a lengthy Instagram announcement on May 23. 'This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision, and balance,' it continued. 'Under his doctor's instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period.' 'I'm sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience,' his team added, 'and thank you for understanding.' Following the news, his wife Alexis broke her silence on the diagnosis, thanking fans for the 'outpouring of love and support.' 'We are so grateful for the wonderful care and swift diagnosis we received,' she wrote on Instagram. 'Bill is beloved by so many, and to us, he is a father and husband who is at the center of our world. We are hopeful for his recovery. We look forward to seeing you all in the future.' Earlier this week, Howard Stern shared a positive update on his longtime pal's well-being. During an episode of SiriusXM's 'The Howard Stern Show' Tuesday, the 71-year-old shock jock insisted that the crooner is 'not dying.' 'I saw Billy Joel two weeks ago,' he told co-host Robin Quivers. 'We had dinner together.' 'Yeah, he does have issues,' Stern continued. 'But he said, 'Yeah, you can tell people, you know, I'm not dying.' You know, he wants people to know that. He just, he's gotta deal with some medical stuff, but he was delightful.'
USA Today
a day ago
- USA Today
These 10 bingeable celebrity memoirs make the perfect juicy summer read
These 10 bingeable celebrity memoirs make the perfect juicy summer read Hot weather is the perfect season for some hot gossip. Don't forget a juicy celebrity memoir in your beach bag this summer – there's nothing like a little industry drama to keep you company in the sand. Or, if nonfiction isn't your thing, check out some of the fiction titles on our summer most anticipated list. This year has seen plenty of binge-worthy new memoirs, like Jeremy Renner's retelling of his near-fatal snowplow accident, Brooke Shields' meditations on aging and Joan Didion's previously unpublished diary entries while in therapy. Celebrity memoirs to binge this summer This list has something for everyone, with never-before-seen stories from Hollywood A-listers to content creators to sports icons. 'Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old' by Brooke Shields (out now) Brooke Shields' latest memoir is a vulnerable conversation about aging and womanhood. In 'Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old,' she argues that we need to destigmatize menopause and increase options for women who 'suffer in silence,' like hormone therapy and intervention. Her memoir touches on motherhood, friendship in middle adulthood, ambition and medical discrimination, including a nonconsensual surgery she experienced. 'Uptown Girl' by Christie Brinkley (out now) Christie Brinkley's memoir packs in a lot, from her early modeling days to her romance with Billy Joel to her survival of a helicopter crash in 1994 and finding out her ex-husband Peter Cook cheated on her with an 18-year-old. Come for the charming story behind the song 'Uptown Girl,' and stay for an intimate look at Brinkley's passions and career. 'Matriarch' by Tina Knowles (out now) 'Matriarch' gives an inside look into the life of the businesswoman, designer and mother of Beyoncé and Solange Knowles. Tina Knowles shares her battle with breast cancer, the ups and downs of her marriage, discovering Beyoncé's talent and the early days of the 'Cowboy Carter' singer's relationship with Jay-Z. 'The Next Day' by Melinda French Gates (out now) 'The Next Day: Transitions, Changes and Moving Forward' feels like 'a walk with a smart friend, one who takes counsel and shares hard-won advice,' USA TODAY's Laura Trujillo writes. Melinda French Gates takes readers through the transition period after her 27-year marriage to Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates ended, also touching on motherhood, guilt and childhood heroes. 'Paper Doll' by Dylan Mulvaney (out now) The actress and content creator's debut memoir gives readers a more intimate glimpse behind her 'Days of Girlhood' social media series and transition. Dylan Mulvaney unpacks the transphobia, backlash, acceptance and, ultimately, joy in this reflection of her pre- and post-transition life. 'We All Want to Change the World' by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (out now) 'We All Want to Change the World' is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's 20th book, and it looks back on America's protest movements through the years, from free speech and civil rights to Black Lives Matter. Read for an intimate look at Abdul-Jabbar's first-hand activism experience, including when he met Martin Luther King Jr. 'When the Going Was Good' by Graydon Carter (out now) Perfect for Hollywood gossip lovers, this memoir from the former head of Vanity Fair has plenty of name drops and insider lore. Among the biggest revelations are the story of how the Oscars' afterparty 'institution' was born and how disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein got banned from it. 'So Gay for You' by Leisha Hailey and Kate Moennig (out now) If you loved 'The L Word,' check out this memoir from the actors who played Shane and Alice. In 'So Gay for You,' Hailey and Moennig write about their early auditioning days and time on the show, bringing readers into their lasting friendship and what it was like to be the faces of lesbian culture in the early 2000s. 'Nice Girls Don't Win' by Parvati Shallow (out July 8) You've seen her on "Survivor" and "The Traitors,' but now reality show star Parvati Shallow reveals more about her real life. Before she won a million dollars at 25 after winning "Survivor," she grew up in a Florida commune run by a tyrannical female guru. She's endured the death of her brother, a divorce and public scrutiny. In her memoir, she aims to show readers how she rebuilt her life through radical self-acceptance and self-love. 'Sister Wife' by Christine Brown Woolley (out Sept. 2) Christine Brown Woolley became famous as the third wife of polygamist Kody Brown on TLC's show 'Sister Wives.' In this candid tell-all, she reveals how her journey from the child of practicing polygamists in Utah, to reality TV to a new life away from polygamy and the world she once knew. Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY's Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter or tell her what you're reading at cmulroy@
