Christie Brinkley breaks arm ahead of ‘DWTS’ premiere, daughter steps in as replacement

Christie Brinkley will not be making her Dancing With the Stars debut Monday night after all.

Just hours after sharing a photo of herself in costume and saying she was “so excited” for the premiere, it was announced that the 65-year-old supermodel had broken her arm during rehearsal and won’t be competing. However, she tapped one of her daughters, model Sailor Brinkley Cook, to replace her on the ABC competition show at the eleventh hour.

The announcement was made on Monday’s Good Morning America — and confirmed soon after in a post on Brinkley’s Instagram. She “shattered” her arm on Thursday and has already undergone surgery — requiring a plate and screws — to repair both her arm and wrist. She’s currently recovering.

Brinkley said she broke her “arm into a 1000 pieces” and called the accident a “crushing disappointment” as “I was having a blast.”

While it was a “disappointing turn of events,” Brinkley said that something “very special” has come out of it by having her younger daughter replace her. She said that Brinkley Cook — a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model and student — has had to overcome “stage fright” over the last few days, so it’s been a personal accomplishment for her. (Brinkley said her older daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, a singer, wouldn’t have been able to replace her due to work commitments.)

Brinkley Cook, 21, told GMA that she was on her way to L.A. to support her mom on the show when Brinkley called to tell her about her injury — and ask her to be her replacement.

“I was like: I don’t know if I can do this. I’m so scared,” Brinkley Cook recalled.

When she arrived and met everyone one from the show, she said she felt ready to try “attacking something that I’m so afraid of.”

The moment of Brinkley’s fall was captured on camera and can be seen at the :56 mark:

Brinkley Cook started learning her mother’s dance routine three days ago and will perform it tonight.

Brinkley Cook says her mom has been “crying” over the situation, but said having her daughter step in is a “silver lining” in a “terrible” situation.

Sailor Brinkley Cook shared the announcement with her Instagram followers on Monday as well. (Screenshot: Sailor Brinkley Cook via Instagram)
Sailor Brinkley Cook shared the announcement with her Instagram followers on Monday as well. (Screenshot: Sailor Brinkley Cook via Instagram)

Brinkley Cook will be wearing her mom’s already tailored wardrobe, which fit her daughter perfectly. Brinkley’s post included a photo of her daughter in her costume and it fit like a glove.

In a statement to GMA, Brinkley said, "Showbiz is all about getting a break, and Sailor and I both got one on Dancing with the Stars this season. Sailor joined the cast when I got mine … ouch somebody stop me, it hurts to laugh!"

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