Additional Coverage:
- Christie Brinkley on Peter Cook affair, making of emotional memoir: ‘Please don’t cry’ (usatoday.com)
Supermodel Christie Brinkley’s new memoir, “Uptown Girl,” delves into the highs and lows of her life, from early modeling days to her marriages with Billy Joel and Peter Cook. Narrating the audiobook herself proved emotional, Brinkley admitted in a recent interview with Social Life Magazine. “There were parts where I thought, ‘Please, don’t cry,'” she confessed, adding that the publisher ultimately allowed her raw emotion to shine through.
The book details the painful discovery of Cook’s affair with an 18-year-old. Brinkley reveals she learned of the infidelity while giving a commencement speech at Southampton High School in 2006.
A man approached her after the speech, revealing Cook’s affair with his teenage daughter. Brinkley’s son Jack, then 11, was present and sensed the gravity of the situation.
Brinkley recounted telling Jack she needed to go to the police station to help a girl in need.
The ensuing custody battle with Cook lasted four years and played out in the public eye. Despite the tumultuous experience, Brinkley remains a believer in love. In a recent interview, she stated that her life is “so full of love” and while another romantic relationship would be welcome, she is content with her life as it is.