Inside Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley’s daughter Alexa’s rocky journey to shake her nepo baby label

There’s no denying that many celebrity offspring have used their famous parents to get a leg up in the industry. 

But Alexa Ray Joel, the daughter of musician Billy Joel and former supermodel Christie Brinkley, has been adamant about the fact that being related to the acclaimed singer and songwriter has not helped her when it comes to her budding music career.

In fact, Alexa’s anti-nepo baby stance meant she spent years struggling to break into the industry.

She spent her days as a child watching her dad write songs at the piano and knew from a young age that it was something she was destined for.

But as a self proclaimed ‘shy’ kid, she has been open about how growing up under the ‘big shadow’ of her parents left her fiercely ‘insecure.’ 

Even so, her love of music prevailed – but when she launched her career at age 19 after dropping out of college, she didn’t want any help from her dad.

At first things seemed to go well – she booked a small tour and released an EP on her own with no record label.

But the momentum soon slowed, and following a turbulent relationship with a man 15 years her senior, Alexa hit an all time low and attempted to take her own life at age 23. 

Alexa Ray Joel, the daughter of Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley, has been adamant about the fact that she never use her famous parents to get a leg up in the industry

In fact, Alexa’s anti-nepo baby stance meant she spent years struggling to break into the industry. She’s seen on stage in 2019

She spent her days as a child watching her dad write songs at the piano and knew it was something she was destined for. Alexa is seen with her dad, left, and mom, right

From her lavish upbringing that was rocked by her parents’ divorce to her years-long battle with depression, take a look back at Alexa’s whirlwind journey 

Flash forward to now, over a decade later, and Alexa seems as happy as could be, but it’s certainly been a rollercoaster ride for the now 39-year-old.

From her lavish upbringing that was rocked by her parents’ divorce to her years-long battle with depression and her unwavering quest to become a musician, take a look back at Alexa’s whirlwind journey.

Alexa’s childhood was rocked by her parents divorce, and growing up under their ‘big shadows’ resulted in her becoming fiercely ‘insecure’ at a young age

Billy and Christie married in March 1985, and they welcomed their daughter, Alexa, that December. 

Despite hailing from two of the most well-known stars on the globe, Alexa has said that her parents tried to ‘shield her’ from the attention, and she had no idea they were famous as a child.

‘I just thought they were popular,’ she previously told the New York Post. ‘I thought I was the star. 

‘We were always putting on plays, and dad would do the accompaniment and mom would dress me up like a Disney princess and be filming everything.’ 

The family lived in a stunning estate in the Hamptons, which boasted a 75-foot pool, jacuzzi, greenhouse, and tennis courts. 

Alexa lived in a stunning estate in the Hamptons, which boasted a 75-foot pool, jacuzzi, greenhouse, and tennis courts. She’s seen as a child with her dad

But Alexa’s idyllic childhood was ripped apart when Billy and Christie split in 1993, when she was eight. She’s seen with her parents in 1988

The sprawling mansion had a two-story family room, kitchen with a fireplace, massive dining room and library.

The master suite came with his and hers dressing rooms, as well as a huge balcony overlooking the stunning grounds.

But Alexa’s idyllic childhood was ripped apart when Billy and Christie split in 1993, when she was eight.

After that, she moved from New York to Colorado to live with her mom, and it’s been said that she did not cope well with the change.

It didn’t help that Christie went through another messy split in the years following her and Billy’s divorce.

The former supermodel quickly moved on with real estate developer Richard Taubman and the two were engaged by May 1994 – before her divorce from Billy was even finalized.

They wed in December 1994, and they welcomed a son, named Jack, in June 1995, but they too split months after Jack was born. 

After that, she moved from New York to Colorado to live with her mom, and it’s been said that she did not cope well. She’s seen left as a child with her half-sister and right as a baby

Alexa later admitted that she was a ‘very shy’ and ‘insecure kid’ and started to ‘hate herself’ while growing up in the ‘big shadow’ of her parents. She’s seen during her childhood

According to a January 1995 affidavit filed as part of Billy and Christie’s divorce proceedings, Alexa struggled immensely after her parents’ divorce.

A former nanny who cared for Alexa from June 1993 to December 1994 said the youngster became ‘withdrawn’ and began ‘talking to herself’ following her move to Colorado.

‘Alexa was withdrawing from her friends, and she was spending a lot of time alone in her room, but I felt like I was talking to a wall, because Christie didn’t respond at all,’ the nanny said, per the documents.

She also recalled Alexa being immensely ‘angry’ and often ‘losing her temper,’ adding, ‘I was not surprised given all the arguing in the house.’ 

Alexa later admitted that she was a ‘very shy’ and ‘insecure kid’ and started to ‘hate herself’ while growing up in the ‘big shadow’ of her parents.

‘It was never, “I hate my parents.” It was more, “I hate myself,”‘ she told the Post.

‘Some people are sadists, I was a masochist. I hated myself. I was very shy and insecure and felt like I was in this big shadow.’

Alexa spent years struggling to break into the music industry without the help of her dad… and attempted suicide in 2009 after hitting an all time low

Alexa had a fierce passion for music from a young age, and by the time she was a teenager, she was writing full songs.

‘I grew up listening to my dad write songs at the piano for hours,’ she recalled to Chorus and Verse in 2006.

‘I definitely believe that music is something that is in my blood, something that I was born to do.’ 

After graduating from high school, she headed to NYU for college, but dropped out soon after so she could focus on her budding music career.

At age 19, she launched her own band and embarked on a small tour across the US.

After graduating from high school, she headed to NYU for college, but dropped out soon after so she could focus on her budding music career. She’s seen in 2011 with her dad

But Alexa’s music career never quite took off. And as she struggled to break into the industry, she hit an all time low in 2009 and she attempted suicide. She’s seen with her mom in 2014

She then released a solo EP, called Sketches, independently one year later, which was followed by a slew of singles.

She has been adamant about how her dad never used his famous name to boost her career, telling New York Magazine in 2010, ‘Nobody handed me a recording contract because of who my father is. 

‘What people don’t understand is that my dad isn’t up on the contemporary music scene.

‘He’s been a legend for decades and he doesn’t know what’s going on right now and he doesn’t need to.’

Perhaps she should have let father help her because sadly, Alexa’s music career never quite took off. 

And as she struggled to break into the industry, she also became entangled in a turbulent relationship with rocker Jimmy Riot, who was 15 years her senior. 

Alexa hit an all time low in 2009 and she attempted suicide by overdosing on a homeopathic alternative to ibuprofen.

She later said: ‘I didn’t want to die. I just didn’t want to feel what I was feeling at that moment anymore.’ She’s seen in 2014 with her mom

‘My West Village apartment never felt like my home, it was lonely,’ she told the Post months later while reflecting on the incident.

‘I was out of a relationship, and I was struggling with it. It was too big for me… I have a flair for the dramatic. I got caught up in my own head. It was a panic. 

‘I didn’t want to die. I just didn’t want to feel what I was feeling at that moment anymore.’

At the time, she vowed that she was ‘working on herself every day,’ adding, ‘I’m trying to rearrange my life in a way to feel happy and fulfilled. 

‘I used to think, why can’t I wake up and be ecstatic today. Well, you have to work at that. I’m in a great place this year, where you start accepting yourself.’

Alexa later told People that she has ‘always struggled’ with depression. 

‘Depression runs in my family. I’ve seen my father struggle with it. I’ve seen my grandmother struggle, and personally, I’ve experienced it as well,’ she said to the publication last month.

‘I’ve always struggled with it. I sort of describe depression as feeling like you have this non-existential sort of weight.

‘It’s not literal, you can’t see it, right? You can’t grasp it. But it’s just this weight in the back of your mind, where things just feel heavy.

‘For me, I don’t know that I would say that I have chronic depression. It kind of comes and goes.’

After her turbulent childhood and lengthy mental health battle, Alexa has now found love and released a new single last month

Despite her turbulent childhood and mental health battles, Alexa seems to be doing extremely well now

She started dating restaurateur Ryan Gleason in 2013, and they got engaged in 2018, and these days, they’re as happy as could be together

She still makes music, with her most recent single, Riverside Way, dropping last month

She has performed on stage with her dad numerous times over the last few years. She’s seen on stage with him in 2018

Despite her turbulent childhood and lengthy mental health battle, Alexa seems to be doing extremely well now.

She started dating restaurateur Ryan Gleason in 2013, and they got engaged in 2018, and these days, they’re as happy as could be together. 

‘Twelve years n’ counting with my guy… who also happens to be my biggest supporter, my protector, my anchor, my lover, my companion, and my best friend,’ she gushed in a tribute for him shared in June. 

‘Steadfast with pure devotion, no matter what. How’d I get so lucky to have you honey?’

She still makes music, and revealed that she was working on a new album late last year. Her most recent single, Riverside Way, dropped last month.

In addition, she has performed on stage with her dad numerous times over the last few years.