Billy Joel, Katie Lee Call It Splits

Piano Man and former Top Chef host separate after nearly five years of marriage

By Marcus Errico Jun 17, 2009 8:58 PMTags
Billy Joel, Katie Lee JoelJim Spellman/Getty Images

Like his song says, Billy Joel is movin' out...or at least movin' on.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer confirmed today that he and wife Katie Lee have split.

"After nearly five years of marriage, Billy and Katie have decided to separate," their publicists say in a joint statement. "This decision is the result of much thought and consideration. Billy and Katie remain caring friends, with admiration and respect for each other."

No word from the 60-year-old Piano Man or 27-year-old former Top Chef host on what cooked their marriage—or whether a divorce is in the works.

The Joels swapped vows in 2004, a year after they first hooked up. It was the first marriage for her, third for him. (He was wed to former business manager Elizabeth Weber from 1971 to 1982 and then to Christie Brinkley, with whom he has a daughter, Alexa Ray, from 1985 to 1994.)

Despite some tough times (rehab for him, Top Chef termination for her) the two seemed relatively happy.

Billy briefly emerged from his self-imposed pop-music hiatus in 2007 to record the song "All My Life" in honor of the missus.

And just over a year ago, Katie told E! News that she was hoping they would have a child of their own, but that never happened.

Not every romance has a happy ending in Hollywood—find out more in our Big Celebrity Splits photo gallery!