Billy Joel Serenades His 'Uptown Girl' Christie Brinkley at MSG

Hamptonite and legendary Pianoman Billy Joel serenaded his ex-wife and friend Christie Brinkley  with “Uptown Girl,” the song he wrote for her in 1983, at his most recent Madison Square Garden concert on Thursday.

During his performance of the song, Joel encouraged his camera crew to film Brinkley, who enjoying the show with her children from third husband Peter Cook, Sailor and Jack. The move earned Joel a beaming, loving smile (perhaps with a bit of nostalgia for her old flame?) from Brinkley and roars of approval from fans as soon as she appeared on the giant monitor above the stage. The moment was captured on video by a fan and posted YouTube, as seen below.

Divorced now for two decades, Joel and Brinkley remain friends and share a daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, together. He revealed in an interview with fellow Hamptonite Howard Stern, that “Uptown Girl” was initially written about Brinkley, Whitney Houston and his girlfriend at the time, supermodel Elle MacPherson, but it later became all about the supermodel who became his wife. Brinkley also appeared in MTV’s video for the song, further cementing her connection to it.

Brinkley and her kids, who call Joel “Uncle Bill,” shared their concert experience on various social media outlets, with posts on Instagram, Twitter and Vine, including photos of them with Joel backstage (above) and of all of them enjoying the show. “He’s still got it!” Brinkley remarked in an Instagram caption, adding the hashtag #nationaltreasure below a picture of herself and Sailor looking absolutely joyous as Joel owned the stage (below).

And Brinkley and her brood weren’t the only notable fans of Joel at MSG for that night’s show. The supermodel snapped a shot for her Instagram followers (below) of Hollywood superstars Ryan Reynolds and wife Blake Lively backstage with Joel after the concert. Daughter Sailor, bottom right, appeared especially gobsmacked to see the power couple chatting it up with Uncle Bill.