BILLY JOEL - JOEL'S MARRIAGE STRAINED BY DIFFERING LIFESTYLES

JOEL'S MARRIAGE STRAINED BY DIFFERING LIFESTYLES

BILLY JOEL's marriage to KATIE LEE failed because their 33-year age difference placed too much of a strain on their relationship.
The couple announced its split on Wednesday (17Jun09) after almost five years of marriage, claiming the break-up was amicable and was "a result of much thoughtful consideration."
The state of their marriage came under question in May (09) after photographs of 27-year-old Lee dancing with designer Yigal Azrouel, 36, appeared in the U.S. tabloids.
Joel's publicists were quick to dismiss allegations of infidelity, with the musician's representative insisting Azrouel is just a friend of Lee's and the split "was absolutely unrelated to Yigal".
Sources close to the pair are blaming the big age gap for the separation, alleging chef Lee tired of the lazy life in the suburbs of Long Island, New York that 60-year-old Joel was so fond of when he was not on the road.
An insider tells the New York Daily News, "It was really just an age thing. She loves the city, she loves to go out and have fun and he prefers to stay at home.
"The age difference didn't seem to be a big deal seven years ago (when they met), but it has become one as they got older. They just grew apart."
It was Joel's third marriage; he was previously wed to Elizabeth Weber and supermodel Christie Brinkley.