Christie Brinkley never really had to face an empty nest.
The actress and supermodel stars opposite Steve Guttenberg in "American Summer," a feel-good tribute to simpler times and family connections. The 72-year-old told Fox News Digital that those themes aren't just on-screen — they're values she's embraced in her own life, creating a home her three adult children can still return to.
The movie, which hit theaters Sept. 4, follows Guttenberg's character as he looks back on a formative childhood summer filled with baseball, first love and the disappearance of his U.S. Army father overseas.
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"I have always been all about family, so I have built my life in a way that my kids ... I want them independent," Brinkley said. "I want them out there living, doing whatever, but they always tend to come home on weekends, holidays. We all really are big on being together, and I love that."
"It's funny because a lot of moms on Instagram will ask me, 'How do you get your kids to come home so often? Mine are off and about,'" the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover girl shared. "And I think it's just to always let them know they're always welcome back. They can bring their friends, that kind of thing."
The supermodel is often photographed alongside her three grown children — Alexa Ray Joel, 40, Jack Paris Brinkley-Cook, 31, and Sailor Brinkley-Cook, 28 — whether they're walking red carpets or stepping out in coordinated looks. Brinkley said their close bond didn't happen by accident but was rooted in the example set by her own parents.
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After losing both of her parents less than two months apart in 2012, Brinkley said she no longer takes family time for granted. Her father, Don Brinkley, died July 14, followed by her mother, Marge Brinkley, on Sept. 9.
"I have always cherished my family time," Brinkley said. "And I think once you lose both of your parents, it becomes more precious because you know that there is a finite time to it. And right now, our family's smaller because I don't have my mom and dad."
Brinkley became visibly emotional before saying, "I always get choked up whenever I talk about them."
Guttenberg is no stranger to Brinkley's heartbreak. He became a caregiver for his father, Stanley Guttenberg, after he developed kidney failure, eventually training to help administer dialysis at home.
"I remember you telling me about your mom and dad, Christie, that you had a little house on your property, and they lived near you, right?" Guttenberg said. "Isn't that wonderful? How lucky you were and are to have them right there. It's priceless, right? ... The greatest thing in the world."
"The best," Brinkley replied. "My parents were always, always so ready to be there for me. Good times, bad times, they were always there, and they always made an effort to be a family. And I think it's so important, and it has given me my happiest moments."
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Family continues to be an essential part of Brinkley's life. She shared that Alexa Ray was preparing for a concert that night, while Jack planned to attend the premiere of "American Summer" alongside her.
For Brinkley, the movie's message extends beyond the screen. She believes audiences are craving stories that celebrate family.
"... People want to put down their phone and speak to another human face to face," she said. "... This [story] takes us back before there were cell phones. And I think that we're going to find people now putting down their cell phones more often and just connecting with loved ones. And that human connection, nothing can replace it. I find that whenever I light a little bonfire in the backyard or at the beach, I always say, 'This is it. This is free. This is simple. And you know what? This is as good as it gets.'"
"Just to be able to sit there by the crackling of the fire, the moon coming up, the stars sparkling, the birds chirping, the crickets coming on, the fireflies lighting — that's it," she continued. "That's the best. Slowing down the speed of life, human connections ... I think those are things that we all want to feel again and again."
"It's better than any Ferrari," Guttenberg said.
Brinkley's love of simple pleasures doesn't stop with family gatherings. She's also an avid birdwatcher — a hobby she believes is making a comeback as more people look to unplug.
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"I've always been a birdwatcher," she said. "On my Instagram, I have a bird feeder, and if you go back, you'll see lots and lots of pictures of the birds at my bird feeder. And I was just reading that birdwatching is back in full force for young people, too. People want to connect with nature. They want to get in nature, and it's all part of just that slowing down."
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And after raising three children, Brinkley believes that slowing down and making time for family helps keep loved ones coming back home.