Billy Joel 'Became a Homey' with His Love & Their Young Daughters after 3 Unsuccessful Marriages

• Legendary singer-songwriter and musician Billy Joel found his true love and happiness with his fourth wife and their two young daughters.
• The 74-year-old star, who has sold over 160 million records worldwide, previously went through three failed marriages.
• Joel says he doesn't want to tour anymore and loves being "a homey" with his love and their young daughters.

Billy Joel, born in 1949, is an iconic American singer, songwriter, and pianist, earning him the affectionate moniker "Piano Man" after his renowned 1973 track of the same name. Since the 1970s, Joel has carved out a remarkable solo career, producing twelve studio albums spanning pop, rock, and even classical music compositions in 2001.

Widely recognized as one of the world's top-selling music artists and the fourth-best-selling solo artist in the United States, Joel boasts a staggering 160 million records sold globally. His 1985 compilation album, "Greatest Hits – Volume I & Volume II," stands as one of the highest-selling albums in the United States.

Among his chart-topping singles are classics like "Piano Man," "Just the Way You Are," and "Allentown." Notably, his album "The Stranger" succeeded immensely, becoming Columbia's bestselling release with over 10 million copies sold and spawning multiple hit singles.

Joel's illustrious career is adorned with accolades, including multiple Grammy Awards and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999. Further, his contributions to music were celebrated when he became a Kennedy Center honoree in 2013 and received the Library of Congress's Gershwin Prize for Popular Song the following year.

Joel remains a beloved figure on the concert circuit, continuously enchanting audiences and attesting to his immense popularity. But Joel wasn't handed a life of fame or fortune. His journey to becoming "The Piano Man" was paved with hard work and determination, starting from his humble beginnings in a factory inking typewriter ribbons.

He once said, "To this day, I still remember what it feels like to do a meaningless hard day's work for a low wage." His perseverance paid off, and he rose to the heights of success. However, amidst this success, his personal life was marked by a series of heartbreaks. Joel's quest for love led him through three marriages, each ending in divorce.

His first marriage was with Elizabeth Weber in September 1973. Her uniqueness and intelligence captivated him, but their relationship ended in July 1982. His second marriage was with supermodel Christie Brinkley in March 1985, which resulted in the birth of their daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, but ended in divorce in August 1994.

His third marriage was to TV entertainment correspondent Katie Lee in October 2004. Unfortunately, Joel's drinking problem during their marriage led to their divorce in May 2011. Despite these setbacks, Billy Joel never lost hope in love. His journey to love was fraught with challenges, but these experiences shaped his path toward a harmonious family life.

In September 1989, Joel found himself embroiled in a financial storm. He filed a staggering $90-million lawsuit against his former manager, Frank Weber, accusing him of fraud, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and federal racketeering statute violations. This lawsuit, lodged in the Supreme Court for New York County in Manhattan, was considered unprecedented in its scale for a pop star seeking recompense from a former manager.

The relationship between Joel and Frank was not merely professional. Frank was the brother of Elizabeth Ann Weber, Joel's first wife, and the godfather of Joel's daughter. Weber had started working for Joel in 1979 when Elizabeth was still managing Joel's career. However, following Joel's separation and subsequent divorce from Elizabeth, Frank took over the reins.

After weathering financial troubles and personal heartbreaks, Joel found his beacon of happiness in Alexis Roderick. At 74, Joel is now a doting father to two daughters, Della and Remy, and a loving husband to Roderick. Their wedding in July 2015 was a joyous celebration attended by 40 of their closest friends and family.

The then-66-year-old music icon and his then-33-year-old bride painted a picture of love that transcended age and past hardships. The wedding celebration was a sensory delight, featuring a delectable spread of locally harvested pearl oysters, jumbo spot prawns, and chilled Maine lobster. The culinary experience was orchestrated by Mark Spiegel of "Mark of Excellence Distinctive Catering."

Guests were treated to a family-style "steakhouse" dinner featuring expertly carved porterhouse steak, Joel's beloved caramelized onions, grilled tuna, and white truffle mac and cheese for the meat enthusiasts. The dessert spread was equally irresistible, offering classic crème brûlée, miniature lemon meringue pies, and a delightful peanut butter and Oreo ice cream bomb.

The ambiance spoke volumes about their love, adorned with a display of open garden roses, hanging amaranthus, willow branches, meticulously crafted garlands, and wild smilax vine from Petals Floral and Party Design. The dining area was particularly enchanting, featuring an illuminated fountain with its base adorned by intricately handmade rose garlands.

The event, planned by Scott Parrish of Thomas Preti Events, concluded with sky lanterns and fireworks illuminating the night sky. Distinguished attendees at the event included New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Joel's daughter Alexa Ray, her boyfriend, and actor Kevin James.

Roderick, renowned for her accomplishments in equestrianism and her past role as a Morgan Stanley executive, and Joel had shared their lives since 2009. Despite his exceptional songwriting talent, Joel has released only two songs and one album of classical piano pieces since "River of Dreams" in 1993.

He openly admitted that while he still wakes up with a tune in his head and plays the piano daily, the urge to write lyrics or seek an audience has waned. "I don't feel the need to validate it with the public or even to record it," he expressed. Despite puzzlement from many, including contemporaries like Elton John and younger admirers like P!nk regarding Joel distancing himself from recording, the artist remains unperturbed.

He acknowledges the common pressure on artists to stay relevant and consistently produce new material and hit singles. However, Joel candidly confesses, "I stopped buying that a long time ago." In a 2019 interview, Joel reflected on his life's journey, "This is my fourth marriage now. It's not good for a relationship to be gone for that long. So I became a homey."

He also humorously mused about his past, "There are things in my life that could make a good movie. I just hope they don't cast a short, fat, ugly guy to play me." He reminisced about marrying a supermodel, having a child with her, and later getting divorced. He also recalled how he once crashed a car and his stint in rehab.

Regarding his performing career, Joel doesn't anticipate an end anytime soon. However, he maintains a pragmatic outlook on the inevitable decline that accompanies aging. But for now, he enjoys being on stage, sometimes even with his young daughters.