Latest news with #RiverofDreams
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Billy Joel And So It Goes: Christie Brinkley reveals the big reason that led to divorce from singer in HBO documentary
Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley opened up about their relationship and how it ended with a divorce in the second part of the "Vienna" singer's HBO Max documentary, Billy Joel: And So It Goes. Joel and Brinkley were married for nine years and welcomed daughter Alexa. The two exes also discussed when they first started dating and "discovering romance and love" for the first time. In part two of his HBO documentary , Billy Joel: And So It Goes, which aired on Friday, July 25, 2025 (Friday), both Joel and Brinkley recall the early days of their relationship. Following their marriage, the couple was together for nine years, after which they separated. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Billy Joel And So It Goes: Brinkley reflects upon divorce In the HBO documentary, Brinkley threw light upon an argument she had with her ex-husband Joel that led to the end of their marriage. The model married Joel in 1985. She further stated that the singer's excessive drinking and their limited time together while he was on his two-year-long River of Dreams tour pushed their relationship to its limit in 1994. 'I don't think it's a secret that his drinking got pretty bad,' Brinkley said in the second installment of Joel's HBO documentary, Billy Joel: And So It Goes, as quoted by Entertainment Weekly. 'And he couldn't really remember what he did when he was drinking, and so he didn't really know how he could hurt people,' she added. Live Events The pair met in St. Barts in 1983 during a vacation. Back then, they were both living in New York City and decided to stay in touch. They went on their first "real date" to a Beach Boys concert following their return to the city. "Here I am dating this beautiful supermodel, and... me? I'm from Hicksville. What am I doing with her? What's she doing with me? But that was a very productive time for me," Joel, 76, was quoted by PEOPLE as saying in the film. "I wrote a lot of songs for her. She was a muse," he added. "It was like being a teenager all over again. Experiencing those same emotions that I had when I was first discovering romance and love," he continued Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley's early days in relationship Reflecting on their "whirlwind romance," Brinkley, 71, who welcomed daughter Alexa with Joel in 1985, said that their first few years together were "just so much fun." Brinkley also recalled one of their final fights in the doc, saying he'd been drinking and she was going to leave with their daughter for New York. "He said, 'Yeah, fine, go.' I tried. I wanted it to work," the model said, as quoted by PEOPLE. "I knew how lucky I was, having music and all of that. But it just didn't work," she said. Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley: Life after separation Following their divorce, Joel and Brinkley have remained close friends and co-parents. In August 2024, Joel sang "Uptown Girl" to Brinkley during his concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Grammy winner has been happily married to his wife, Alexis, since 2015, and they share two daughters: Della, 9, and Remy, 7.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Music Legend, 76, Is 'Healing' After Heartbreaking Rare Brain Disorder Diagnosis
Music Legend, 76, Is 'Healing' After Heartbreaking Rare Brain Disorder Diagnosis originally appeared on Parade. Billy Joel is on the mend following a brain disorder diagnosis earlier this year. According to Susan Lacy, co-director of the Piano Man's upcoming HBO documentary And So It Goes, the legendary singer is focusing on recovery. During an appearance on Good Morning America, Lacy said Joel, 76, has been 'doing physical therapy, he's healing, he's working on getting better.' In May, Joel revealed he had been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, a brain disorder that affects vision, hearing and balance. The condition forced him to cancel several shows, which he said were 'exacerbated by recent concert performances.' The singer shared that he was undergoing targeted physical therapy and had been advised to pause performing during his recovery. His daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, shared a touching tribute to her father following the diagnosis. "We love you and we got you, Pop," she wrote on Instagram. "My Dad is the strongest and most resilient man I've ever known… and he's entirely committed to making a full recovery with ongoing physical-therapy treatments as he continues to regain his strength." This latest update comes as HBO gears up to release And So It Goes, a two-part documentary exploring Joel's life and legacy. Part one premieres Friday, July 18, followed by part two on July 25. The film offers a rare look into Joel's highs and lows — from his incredible career to his personal struggles, including past suicide attempts. It also features interviews with music legends like Bruce Springsteen, who praises Joel's songwriting, saying, 'His melodies are better than mine.' The documentary takes fans behind the scenes of Joel's most iconic songs — from 'River of Dreams,' which he says came to him in a dream, to 'New York State of Mind,' inspired by a bus ride to his new home in upstate New York. "He's a savant, and music saved his life," Lacy told GMA. "Billy trusted two women to tell his story and we're quite proud of that," added co-director Jessica Levin. "And I think we were able to really reveal a side of him that another set of filmmakers may or may not have been able to." Music Legend, 76, Is 'Healing' After Heartbreaking Rare Brain Disorder Diagnosis first appeared on Parade on Jul 17, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
Directors of 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes' give update on singer, talk new documentary
The directors of "Billy Joel: And So It Goes" recently opened up about the making of the new HBO documentary and provided an update on the legendary singer's health. Billy Joel, who has been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, a brain disorder that affects his vision, hearing and balance, is currently undergoing physical therapy to regain his health and return to performing. "He's doing physical therapy, he's healing, he's working on getting better," said Susan Lacy, the documentary's director during an interview with " Good Morning America" which aired on Wednesday. This update follows the cancellation of several of Joel's shows due to his diagnosis, leaving fans concerned about his health and future performances. The documentary offers a rare and intimate look into Joel's life, exploring both the highs and lows of his personal and professional journey. From childhood struggles to the iconic songs that have defined his career, the film delves deep into not only Joel's musical genius but also the challenges he faced behind the scenes. Behind the music The documentary also uncovers the stories behind some of Joel's most beloved songs. From the haunting "River of Dreams," which he said came to him in a dream, to "New York State of Mind," which he wrote after a bus ride to his new home in upstate New York, the documentary explores how Joel's personal experiences shaped the music that touched millions of people. "He's a savant, and music saved his life," Lacy explained. "Billy Joel: And So It Goes" also sheds light on the women who played pivotal roles in Joel's life, including his mother, who ensured he received piano lessons at an early age, and his ex-wife, model Christy Brinkley, with whom he shares a daughter, Alexa. "'Uptown Girl' ... it could have been a Mozart piece … here I am dating a supermodel. Me? I'm from Hicksville!" Joel jokes in the film's trailer, recalling his life with Brinkley and their time together. Also highlighted is his lesser-known ex-wife, Elizabeth Weber, who played a crucial role in Joel's early career and was instrumental in getting "Just the Way You Are" released as a single, marking his first major hit. "Billy Joel: And So It Goes" is not only a celebration of his music but also a reflection on his tumultuous childhood, including the absence of his father and the joy he found in music, despite early challenges. "His mother knew that Billy had a gift, and she made sure he had those piano lessons," Jessica Levin, the documentary's co-director, told "GMA." Levin also reflected on the personal approach she and Lacy took to tell Joel's story. "Billy trusted two women to tell his story and we're quite proud of that," she said. "And I think we were able to really reveal a side of him that another set of filmmakers may or may not have been able to." "Billy Joel: And So It Goes" will premiere in two parts on HBO on Friday July 18 and Friday July 25.
New Indian Express
03-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Amazon, the river of burning dreams
'I went on the river for money, I sold my rotten shack / For a rusty tanker leaking oil, and the burning sun was on my back / Travelled up the ragin' river, I watched the jungle burn... I'm ridin' on a river of dreams / Amazon, is it heaven or hell?' — Amazon (River of Dreams), a 1993 song by jazz guitarist Artie Traum emblematic of the iconic river basin's dire straits three decades later Climate impact on the Amazon rainforest and the issue of fossil fuels brought together the heads of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela—eight members of Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO)—after 14 years in August 2023 at Belem, Brazil. Home to more than 1.5 million indigenous people representing over 385 ethnic groups and a verdantly diverse biome, the enigmatic Amazonia seeks inclusive social support, besides an environmental look. Holding a fifth of all newly-identified global oil reserves, the region is currently witness to a frenzy as oil majors and nouveau rentiers capitalise on the opportunity. However, the well-documented history of 'experimental exploration' in the Amazon basin reflects failed projects and environmental delinquency. Recurrent mechanical failures, sabotage, corrosion and natural disasters on ageing and 'strategically misplaced' pipelines have resulted in thousands of oil spills over the last 50 years. River pollution and destruction of planet's largest rainforest remains a politically sensitive issue for Latin American oil producers, as they rely on exports to usher social and economic welfare. With rampant hydrocarbon contamination of numerous waterways and Amazon tributaries, infrastructural compatibility and logistics management is essential for ethical production practices. The catastrophic March 2025 spill in coastal Esmeraldas from a ruptured trans-Ecuadorian pipeline, the worst in 30 years, is such a tragedy. The historic referendum of August 2023 precluded exploration in the country's Yasuní National Park, a Unesco Biosphere Reserve. Ceasing further operations in the area, Petroecuador was directed to 'revive the ecosystems and dismantle any infrastructure within a year'. However, 'stranded assets' and debris continue to besmear the pristine environs.
Otago Daily Times
17-06-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Working together for the wellbeing of the Manuherikia River
Clare Hadley reflects on the first year of the Waiora Manuherekia project. Waiora Manuherekia, a project of the Manuherekia Catchment group, was launched last July with $1.9 million from Ministry for the Environment Jobs for Nature funding. Jobs for Nature has an environmental focus — with many projects having the additional benefit of building community. We received this funding because the ministry recognised that our community has the most interest in the improved and sustained health of the catchment. The Manuherikia River is important to everyone in the catchment — whether it is for recreation, irrigation or for amenity. But here's the kicker — we only had one year to allocate the funding and deliver the project. It felt like a mammoth challenge. However, what we've achieved is testament to what a community, experts, farmers and our local stakeholders can do when we have a united focus, and we work together to find solutions. The starting point was to bring representatives from the Department of Conservation, Ministry for Primary Industries, NZ Landcare Trust, Otago Regional Council and Aukaha together and share a united determination to make something happen in this timeframe. We then connected with people across the catchment to guide us — and these people were invaluable because of their range of skills and experience. The first significant piece of work was wetland restoration. After a contestable process, 12 wetlands were identified to receive support for fencing or planting (or both). One of the farms will host a trial for the Otago Regional Council on different restoration methods. In other work, we've heard a clear message that continuing the trail alongside the river to Riverside Park is a high priority. Thanks to Phil Murray (Central Otago Environmental Society) for bringing mountain bikers and kayakers together to identify what's important to them. Together with the Central Otago District Council we're working with Contact Energy to try to make this a reality. We had a vision to connect with younger people and link them to the Manuherikia River through a River of Dreams competition. It was inspiring to see the ways that younger people showed their love and appreciation for the river. A significant focus has been on willow trees in the catchment. I think we can all agree that willow trees are a blessing and a curse. In the right place they can have a stabilising influence on the land and provide shade in the heat of the summers of Central Otago. In the wrong place they affect water quantity and flow. Over the past six months, we've removed willows from a range of places — including Riverside Park at the confluence in Alexandra — and sprayed willows in the headwaters of creeks. At a few sites where willows have been removed planting of native plants is already under way, including at Poolburn Gorge, Hills Creek rest area and Lauder Creek at the Rail Trail bridge. It doesn't stop there. Waiora Manuherekia has funded work to understand sediment loss, erosion and flow paths in our catchment. We will be sharing all this great data with farmers and landowners in the coming months, giving them information to help their decision-making. Most importantly in my mind is that this project, Waiora Manuherekia, has created a place for people with different views to contribute to common goals — especially related to a river we all appreciate. It has initiated conversations across our community on what's important for and around the river. It's a well-known adage that old men plant trees whose shade they will never sit under, and I feel like that's true for this project. The work we're doing now will have long-reaching and lasting impacts. Thank you to those who have supported, advised, contributed, challenged — this truly was a community effort. • Clare Hadley is general manager of the Manuherekia Catchment Group.
