In the new issue of Rolling Stone, Elton John talks about his 40-year career, including his enduring relationship with lyricist Bernie Taupin, the joys of fatherhood, and his true feelings about his longtime friend and tour-mate Billy Joel.

He tells the magazine that Billy Joel needs to get serious about sobriety, and “do something better” with his life. He tells the magazine that the pair canceled many tours because of Billy’s illnesses and alcoholism.

“At the end of the day, he’s coasting,” John tells Contributing Editor Austin Scaggs. “I always say, ‘Billy, can’t you write another song?’ It’s either fear or laziness. It upsets me. Billy’s a conundrum. We’ve had so many cancelled tours because of illnesses and various other things, alcoholism.” He goes on to criticize Joel’s past attempts to stop drinking. “He’s going to hate me for this, but every time he goes to rehab they’ve been light,” John says. “When I went to rehab, I had to clean the floors. He goes to rehab where they have TVs. I love you, Billy, and this is tough love.”

Joel has yet to comment on these statements.

The cover story is in the new issue of Rolling Stone, on newsstands Friday. Go here for more highlights.

Christie Brinkley and Billy Joel are both extremely upset over allegations made about their daughter Alexa Ray Joel that after a “dysfunctional family getaway with her mom” she attempted to take her own life.

Every parent can imagine the pain and anguish we face as parents of a daughter who is working to recover from the dangerous actions she took while suffering a devastating heartbreak. As much as we hate dignifying tabloid stories with a response, we feel we must set the record straight to protect our family.

The story that ran in the New York Post on December 8th, and has been subsequently spread across the Internet, is filled with vicious lies and attempts to smear our character and that of our beloved daughter. We ask the public and legitimate media outlets to please “consider the source” and to not further exacerbate our daughter’s situation by repeating and legitimizing these false reports.

With much appreciation,
Billy Joel & Christie Brinkley

Source

Following the revelation Wednesday afternoon that Billy Joel and his wife Katie Lee Joel had decided to end their marriage, the music legend’s ex-wife, supermodel Christie Brinkley and his daughter Alexa Ray Joel, are talking about the sad news.

“He was the first person that told me,” Alexa told OK! on Wednesday night at the sixth annual Wayuu Taya Foundation Gala sponsored by Double Cross Vodka. “Being who he is, he can’t just trust everybody and you know, I like knowing that my dad can talk to me in the same way that I come to him… I’m just supporting him right now.

Alexa also admits she wasn’t surprised when her father told her the news. “I have a pretty good women’s intuition so I could tell,” she explained. “I know my dad very well. So I’m behind him, you know.”

So with her parents’ marriage — as well as both her mother and father’s subsequent marriages — having ended in divorce, is Alexa turned off by the idea of saying “I do”?

“I’m a real woman. I would love to get married,” she told OK!. “I don’t necessarily think you need to get the government involved in order to celebrate your love. You can have a wedding, and have it be big and fabulous and not necessarily complicate it with the papers and all that. In what I’ve seen — sure I have a different perspective on marriage and all of that. But I’m a true romantic and I will be having a wedding,[laughs] At one point, not now!”

Meanwhile, Alexa’s mom Christie tells Extra, “I’m very sad that this has happened and I wish them both happiness… he’s a wonderful father to Alexa. We’ve remained friends. We’ve been friends for many, many years, so obviously I’m very sad that this has happened and I wish them both happiness.”

Source, Bauer-Griffin

Billy Joel and Katie Lee Joel have split.

“After nearly five years of marriage Billy Joel & Katie Lee Joel have decided to separate,” a rep for the couple tells Usmagazine.com. “This decision is a result of much thoughtful consideration. Billy & Katie remain caring friends with admiration and respect for each other.”

Rumors of a rocky marriage have been surfacing lately.

New York’s Daily News reports that Lee, 27, was spotted dirty dancing with 36-year-old Israeli-born fashion designer Yigal Azrouel, who has frequently escorted her to events.

The paper reports he has even referred to her as his “girlfriend.”

But a source tells Us affair rumors “had nothing to do” with the split.

“Everything is very amicable and it was just a growing apart,” the source adds.

Joel was 55 years old when he wed Katie Lee, then 23, at his 15-acre waterfront Center Island estate in Long Island, N.Y., in 2004.

Joel was previously wed to Christie Brinkley (1985-94) and business manager Elizabeth Weber (1973-82).

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