Aspen ski trip a pain in Brinkley's back

NEW YORK — Supermodel Christie Brinkley was recuperating from back surgery at a New York City hospital on Wednesday, according to her publicist.

"Last evening Christie Brinkley underwent emergency back surgery," said Marcia Horowitz. The CoverGirl cosmetics model hurt her back during a ski trip in December in Aspen, Colo., she said, "and (it) worsened in the past few days."

Brinkley would be released from the undisclosed hospital on Friday, said Horowitz.

Last year, Brinkley was the subject of tabloid fodder after reports surfaced that her fourth husband, Peter Cook, had an affair with an 18-year-old woman he employed.

Brinkley filed for divorce in September.

The 52-year-old model, who frequently has appeared in Sports Illustrated's annual swimsuit issue, was also previously married to developer Richard Taubman, Frenchman Jean-Francois Allaux and singer Billy Joel. She has three children.