Katie Lee Joel

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Newly-Single Katie Lee's Comfort Food Favorite

Originally posted 10/21/2009 02:00PM

For the past 5 years, Katie Lee, 28, has been best known as Mrs. Billy Joel.

But since she split with the Piano Man in June, she's been throwing her heart and soul into her already thriving culinary career. "This summer, I spent a lot of time in the kitchen," says the cookbook author and food correspondent for CBS's The Early Show. "I certainly find comfort in cooking and eating. And eating some more."

Here, she shares the recipe for her award winning Logan County Hamburgers – named in tribute to her West Virginia roots. The recipe appeared in her first cookbook, The Comfort Table and Lee has she just released a follow up, Recipes for Everyday Occasions.

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Billy Joel and His Wife Split

Originally posted 06/17/2009 04:55PM

Billy Joel and his wife, Katie Lee, are calling it quits, PEOPLE confirms.

"After nearly five years of marriage Billy Joel & Katie Lee Joel have decided to separate. This decision is a result of much thoughtful consideration. Billy & Katie remain caring friends with admiration and respect for each other," says a statement issued by both of their reps.

For months, the couple has dodged reports of trouble in the marriage. Joel, 60, married Katie, 27, in a sunset wedding on September 2004 at his 15-acre waterfront Center Island estate in Long Island. Katie is a chef and former host of Bravo's Top Chef.

• Reporting by ALEXIS CHIU