Billy Joel's ex-wife stands by him as latest marriage fails

Christie Brinkley, the former wife of singer Billy Joel, 60, has reacted to news he was separating from his wife of five years, Katie Lee , 27. Brinkley together with daughter Alexa Ray Joel (pictured) said they felt for the music legend. "My heart goes out to them," Brinkley said. "It is sad news, but Billy is a great dad and a great friend, so of course I wish him the best." Alexa Ray, 24 and bearing a striking resemblance to her dad, said she already knew of the split with Lee. "This is old news for me,” she said in a video shown on an entertainment website. "I heard this a while ago. I was the first to know, okay - I’m his daughter. But you know what? I’m completely supportive of my father and very protective of him ... I’m behind him 100 per cent. So I’m just there for him right now." The mother and daughter were attending the 6th Annual Wayuu Taya Foundation Fundraising Gala in New York City. The non-profit foundation helps improve the lives of Latin-American indigenous people.