The most ridiculous and pathetic attack on Billy Joel and his family comes today in the New York Post. The fish wrap tabloid actually suggests that a nine-day family trip to Turks and Caicos pushed Alexa Ray Joel to attempt suicide. They depict Christie Brinkley as a “mommie dearest.”

This is completely untrue and unfounded, say friends.

Indeed, one friend has read me a postcard from Alexa that she wrote on the last day of the trip. It’s upbeat, positive, and even mentions Brinkley. It certainly sounds like they were having a great time. Brinkley even took swimsuit model pics of a glowing, sexy Alexa and sent them to close friends under the title “Bod-icelli.”

“She loves Alexa so much,” says a friend.

Brinkley is not perfect. She has had four bad marriages. There’s no scrubbing that away. But she’s always done two things: had a very good relationship with Billy Joel, and she’s been totally supporting and nurturing with Alexa. In fact, when Brinkley was suffering over the break up with Peter Cook, it was Joel to whom she turned. She went to a barbecue at his house. When Joel played a big luxe concert in East Hampton in the summer of 2007, Christie brought Alexa and son Jack, and cheered Joel on. In May 2007, Christie also came to the Rainforest Foundation show at Carnegie Hall to support both Billy and Alexa.

Not only that: Every show that Alexa has played in New York, no matter how small the club, Brinkley has been front and center. She’s not a stage mom, and doesn’t hog the spotlight. Rather, she’s there for her daughter, helping with hair and makeup, etc.

It’s not outside the realm of possibility that the Post’s unnamed source on all this is, ta da! Peter Cook, Brinkley’s ex. He’d like nothing better than to embarrass both Christie and Alexa, who testified against him in court when Cook was publicly embarrassed.

Even worse: Friends are convinced that Cook has been logging nasty comments using pseudonyms on the web about Brinkley. Cook certainly has a lot of experience using the internet. He admitted in court during his divorce trial that he was addicted to web porn. In October, when he and Brinkley were in another court battle, Cook started posting under his own name and then possibly under others including, possibly, NYnowTELLURIDEthen.

“Those posts are too personal,” says a friend.

Alexa Ray Joel, daughter of Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley, is out of St. Vincent’s Hospital after her long bad night.

Sources say the fledgling pop singer transferred to a rehab facility, where she’ll spend some proscribed time before heading to her mom’s place in the Hamptons.

Hopefully, the rabid tabloid press will give this girl a break. She’s not Tiger Woods. Mostly she needs time to get over this guy, Jimmy Riot. One listen to his MySpace music and it’s clear he’s not worth it. One of his songs is called “This Place Smells Like Ass.” OMG … Alexa, it’s time to cut bait and move on …

Alexa Ray Joel, daughter of Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley, took an overdose of a mild drug called Traumeel, insiders say.

The 23-year-old singer/songwriter, who is usually perky and in good spirits, had been despondent over breaking up with a musician boyfriend. According to family insiders, Alexa never lost consciousness.

“She had trouble breathing, became concerned amd called 911,” a source says. Traumeel is a homeopathic antihistamine and a muscle relaxer. Lucky for Alexa, it’s not that strong a drug.

What’s interesting and sad about all this is that Alexa is indeed one of those “great girls,” with loads of friends and friend to many. She is truly loved not only by her parents and siblings, but by her whole circle of friends.

And while many may pour over her lyrics looking for clues, there aren’t that many to find. Alexa’s music falls into the range of pure pop. Not only does write a Brill Building-like melody with hooks, she can also compose for Broadway. Her talent is immense and still not tapped. She’s even gone the indie route, avoiding signing with a major record label.

Tonight she’s been talking to her dad by phone since if Billy Joel were to walk through the front doors of the dreaded St. Vincent’s Hospital, it would cause a press riot. But Alexa is very close to both her parents. Mom Christie Brinkley is at her side now, and is always at Alexa’s shows, cheering her on from the sidelines.