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CTV News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Billy Joel documentary reveals he attempted suicide twice and was in a coma after affair with friend's wife
Warning: This article contains mentions of suicidal ideation. Discretion advised. Billy Joel at one point wanted to 'end it all,' according to the documentary 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes.' The new film, which premiered at Tribeca Festival in New York City this week, revisits the some of the singer's struggles, including two suicide attempts following an affair with his bandmate's wife, according to People. The first part of the documentary told the story of the Joel being in the band Attila with his best friend Jon Small, whom Joel eventually went to live with in a home occupied by Small, his wife Elizabeth Weber and their son. Weber reportedly said in the film that there was a 'slow burn' between her and Joel. Joel said he 'felt very, very guilty' about their resulting affair, which ended in a fight and the band splitting after he confessed to Small that he was in love with Weber. 'They had a child. I felt like a homewrecker,' Joel told the filmmakers. 'I was just in love with a woman and I got punched in the nose, which I deserved. Jon was very upset. I was very upset.' Weber left and Joel said he spiraled into drinking, became homeless and was 'depressed I think to the point of almost being psychotic,' he recalled. 'I figured, 'That's it. I don't want to live anymore.' I was just in a lot of pain and it was sort of like why hang out, tomorrow is going to be just like today is and today sucks,' he said. 'So, I just thought I'd end it all.' His sister, Judy Molinari, was a medical assistant at the time and gave him sleeping pills, which Joel took all of and ended up in the hospital in a coma for days. 'I went to go see him in the hospital, and he was laying there white as a sheet,' she said in the film. 'I thought that I'd killed him.' He drank a bottle of cleaning fluid the second suicide attempt, Joel said, and ironically it was Small who took him to the hospital. 'Even though our friendship was blowing up, Jon saved my life,' Joel said. He sought help, which Joel said helped him channel his emotions into his music that has brought him success. Years later, Joel and Weber reconnected and married from 1973 to 1982. She still has admiration for him and has been supportive as the superstar musician recently cancelled tour dates to seek treatment for normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), a condition that affects the brain. 'He's worked so hard all of his life,' she told E! News at the premiere. 'I've never known anybody who worked harder than he did in all those years we were together and working together.' 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes' is set to air on HBO in July. By Lisa Respers France, CNN If you or someone you know is in crisis, here are some resources that are available: If you need immediate assistance call 911 or go to the nearest hospital.
Fox News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Billy Joel opens up about affair that led to two suicide attempts
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Billy Joel is sharing the most haunting chapter of his life – a chapter that nearly silenced his music forever. The "Piano Man" singer, who is currently battling a brain disorder, revealed in the first part of his documentary, "Billy Joel: And So It Goes," what led him to attempt suicide twice and fall into a coma. When the musician was in his early 20s, Joel was part of a small band called Attila with his best friend Jon Small. At the time, he moved in with Small, his wife, Elizabeth Weber and their son, according to People. "Bill and I spent a lot of time together," Weber confessed in the documentary, according to People. She added that their friendship was gradual and a "slow build." Joel eventually told his best friend, "I'm in love with your wife." "I felt very, very guilty about it. They had a child. I felt like a homewrecker," Joel admitted in the documentary, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on Wednesday. "I was just in love with a woman, and I got punched in the nose, which I deserved. Jon was very upset. I was very upset." "I felt very, very guilty about it. They had a child. I felt like a homewrecker." The betrayal not only ended Joel and Small's friendship at the time but also dissolved their band, Attila. Consumed by guilt and depression, Joel's personal and professional life unraveled, as he began to spiral. "I had no place to live. I was sleeping in laundromats, and I was depressed, I think to the point of almost being psychotic," Joel said in the documentary. So, I figured, 'That's it. I don't want to live anymore.' I was just in a lot of pain and it was sort of like why hang out? Tomorrow is going to be just like today is, and today sucks. So, I just thought I'd end it all." Joel's sister shared in the film that she was working as a medical assistant and gave him sleeping pills to help with the restless nights. "But Billy decided that he was going to take all of them … he was in a coma for days and days and days," she emotionally said. "I went to go see him in the hospital, and he was laying there white as a sheet. I thought that I'd killed him." While Joel acknowledged that he had been "very selfish" during the tumultuous time, he recalled his first thought when he woke up from his coma was that he wanted to attempt suicide again. During Joel's second attempt at suicide, he ingested "lemon Pledge," a furniture polish. Miraculously, he survived both attempts, after his friend Small rushed him to the hospital. "Even though our friendship was blowing up, Jon saved my life," Joel explained in the documentary. His friend Small added, "He never really said anything to me. The only practical answer I can give as to why Billy took it so hard was because he loved me that much and that it killed him to hurt me that much. Eventually, I forgave him." Following the second suicide attempt, Joel shared that he had felt like a "lost soul" and admitted himself to an "observation ward." There, he confronted his inner demons and began the long road to recovery. The singer called the experience life-changing and was released several weeks later. "I got out of the observation ward, and I thought to myself, 'You can utilize all those emotions to channel that stuff into music,'" Joel said. Joel and Weber reconnected and eventually tied the knot years after the affair. The couple were together from 1973 until 1982.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Billy Joel admits he attempted suicide twice and ended up in a coma after falling in love with bandmate's wife
BILLY Joel has admitted that he attempted suicide twice and was left in a coma after having an illicit affair with his close friend's wife. Billy, 76, opened up about his mental health struggles in the upcoming documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes. 3 3 The Uptown Girl singer had previously discussed attempting to take his own life in his early 20s, but has just now revealed what led to the dark point. In the doc, which was partially screened at Tribeca Festival in New York City on Wednesday, Joel spoke about busting up his best friend's marriage with Elizabeth Weber. The singer didn't make it to the screening as he continues to battle a debilitating health condition. The affair brewed after Billy moved in with Elizabeth, her husband Jon Small, and their child, while the two close friends played in their band Attila. Elizabeth, who went on to marry Joel from 1973 to 1982, looked back at their burgeoning relationship in the documentary for the first time in years. "Bill and I spent a lot of time together," she said, and described their extramarital affair as a "slow build." When Jon finally confronted the two over their relationship, Billy admitted, "I am in love with your wife," Elizabeth said. "I felt very, very guilty about it. They had a child. I felt like a homewrecker," Billy said in the documentary, according to People. "I was just in love with a woman and I got punched in the nose which I deserved. "Jon was very upset. I was very upset." Billy Joel's daughter Alexa breaks silence after his brain disorder diagnosis Attila broke up for good after Billy's shocking admission, and Elizabeth separated herself to get some space. Meanwhile, the Piano Man singer spiraled into a pit of depression over what he had done. "I had no place to live. I was sleeping in laundromats and I was depressed I think to the point of almost being psychotic," Billy said. The singer described being in "a lot of pain" as he suffered from suicidal ideation. He took a handful of pills and fell into a coma for days. Later on, the singer tried to end his life again by drinking furniture polish, and this time Jon rushed him to the hospital. "Even though our friendship was blowing up, Jon saved my life," Billy said. Jon said that they never discussed the affair at the time, but that he managed to forgive his friend anyway. "He never really said anything to me," Jon said. "The only practical answer I can give as to why Billy took it so hard was because he loved me that much and that it killed him to hurt me that much." Elizabeth went on to be Billy's first wife and manager, but they split up by 1982. In 1985, Billy tied the knot with model Christie Brinkley, and they welcomed daughter Alexa Ray Joel later that year. On August 26, 1994, Billy and Christie divorced. Billy found his third wife, chef Katie Lee, in 2004, and they were married for five years. Now, he's married to former Morgan Stanley executive Alexis Roderick, and they've been together since 2015. Billy was forced to cancel all of his upcoming tour dates after he was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, which affects his hearing, vision, and balance. What is normal pressure hydrocephalus? NORMAL pressure hydrocephalus occurs when spinal fluid builds up in the skull and starts pressing on the brain. The condition can affect brain function, which can lead to a loss of memory, concentration, and motor skills. Medical experts say that NPH often presents like degenerative brain diseases like Alzheimer's and is usually noticed by loved ones. And around 30 percent of those suffering from the condition do also have one of those diseases, according to Cleveland Clinic. However, those who only have NPH can get relief if they have a major surgery. The surgery involves getting a shunt, which is a device that can drain fluid from the skull affecting the brain.
CNN
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Billy Joel documentary reveals he attempted suicide twice and was in a coma after affair with friend's wife
Billy Joel at one point wanted to 'end it all,' according to the documentary 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes.' The new film, which premiered at Tribeca Festival in New York City this week, revisits the some of the singer's struggles, including two suicide attempts following an affair with his bandmate's wife, according to People. The first part of the documentary told the story of the Joel being in the band Attila with his best friend Jon Small, whom Joel eventually went to live with in a home occupied by Small, his wife Elizabeth Weber and their son. Weber reportedly said in the film that there was a 'slow burn' between her and Joel. Joel said he 'felt very, very guilty' about their resulting affair, which ended in a fight and the band splitting after he confessed to Small that he was in love with Weber. 'They had a child. I felt like a homewrecker,' Joel told the filmmakers. 'I was just in love with a woman and I got punched in the nose, which I deserved. Jon was very upset. I was very upset.' Weber left and Joel said he spiraled into drinking, became homeless and was 'depressed I think to the point of almost being psychotic,' he recalled. 'I figured, 'That's it. I don't want to live anymore.' I was just in a lot of pain and it was sort of like why hang out, tomorrow is going to be just like today is and today sucks,' he said. 'So, I just thought I'd end it all.' His sister, Judy Molinari, was a medical assistant at the time and gave him sleeping pills, which Joel took all of and ended up in the hospital in a coma for days. 'I went to go see him in the hospital, and he was laying there white as a sheet,' she said in the film. 'I thought that I'd killed him.' He drank a bottle of cleaning fluid the second suicide attempt, Joel said, and ironically it was Small who took him to the hospital. 'Even though our friendship was blowing up, Jon saved my life,' Joel said. He sought help, which Joel said helped him channel his emotions into his music that has brought him success. Years later, Joel and Weber reconnected and married from 1973 to 1982. She still has admiration for him and has been supportive as the superstar musician recently canceled tour dates to seek treatment for normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), a condition that affects the brain. 'He's worked so hard all of his life,' she told E! News at the premiere. 'I've never known anybody who worked harder than he did in all those years we were together and working together.' 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes' is set to air on HBO in July.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Billy Joel reveals two suicide attempts and coma after affair with best friend's wife
Billy Joel is opening up like never before — revealing he attempted suicide twice and fell into a coma after having an affair with his best friend's wife. The shocking confession comes in Billy Joel: And So It Goes, the upcoming HBO documentary about the 76-year-old music legend's life, which premiered Wednesday at the Tribeca Festival in New York City. Joel, who was notably absent from the event amid his ongoing health battle with a brain disorder, doesn't hold back in the film's first installment—revisiting one of the darkest chapters of his life. In his early 20s, Joel was living with his Attila bandmate and best friend Jon Small, along with Small's wife Elizabeth Weber and their young son, when he began a secret affair with Weber. 'I felt very, very guilty about it. They had a child. I felt like a homewrecker,' Joel explained in the documentary. 'I was just in love with a woman and I got punched in the nose—which I deserved. Jon was very upset. I was very upset.' SUBSCRIBE to our new Showbiz newsletter for all the latest on Billy Joel In his early 20s, Joel was living with his Attila bandmate and best friend Jon Small, along with Small's wife Elizabeth Weber and their young son, when he began a secret affair with Weber; (Joel and Weber in 1979) The fallout ended Attila, shattered Joel's friendship with Small, and left the future Piano Man broken and alone after Weber took off— though they would eventually reunite. 'I had no place to live. I was sleeping in laundromats and I was depressed, I think to the point of almost being psychotic,' he said. 'So I figured, "That's it. I don't want to live anymore." I was just in a lot of pain and it was sort of like, why hang out? Tomorrow's going to be just like today, and today sucks. So I just thought I'd end it all.' At the height of his breakdown, Billy Joel turned to his sister, Judy Molinari, who was working as a medical assistant at the time. Hoping to help him rest, she gave him some sleeping pills—never expecting what would happen next. 'But Billy decided that he was going to take all of them… he was in a coma for days and days and days,' she recalled in the documentary. 'I went to go see him in the hospital, and he was laying there white as a sheet. I thought that I'd killed him.' 'I was very selfish,' he said, reflecting on the mindset that led to his first suicide attempt. Waking up in the hospital, Joel said he didn't feel relief or regret—instead, he became fixated on making a second attempt. Molinari revealed that Joel's second attempt involved drinking a bottle of Lemon Pledge furniture polish. It was Jon Small—despite their fractured friendship—who rushed him to the hospital. 'Even though our friendship was blowing up, Jon saved my life,' Joel said. Small later reflected on why the betrayal may have hit Joel so hard. 'He never really said anything to me. The only practical answer I can give as to why Billy took it so hard was because he loved me that much and that it killed him to hurt me that much. Eventually I forgave him.' After surviving the attempts, Joel voluntarily admitted himself into an 'observation ward.' He was released after a couple of weeks. 'I got out of the observation ward and I thought to myself, you can utilize all those emotions to channel that stuff into music,' he said. Joel's heartbreak and depression fueled his 1971 debut album Cold Spring Harbor, including the track She's Got a Way, inspired by Elizabeth. The two eventually rekindled their romance, marrying in 1973, with Elizabeth stepping in as his manager soon after. Elizabeth also inspired other hits like The Stranger, She's Always a Woman, and even appeared as the 'waitress practicing politics' in Piano Man. However, her patience ran out amid Joel's escalating substance abuse, and she left both as his manager and wife around the time of his 1982 motorcycle accident. Meanwhile, Joel recently updated longtime friend Howard Stern on his health after revealing he's been battling the brain condition called normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), which has impacted his 'hearing, vision, and balance.' 'He does have issues, but he said, "Yeah, you can tell people, I'm not dying,"' Stern said on his Sirius XM show The Howard Stern Show on Tuesday, adding, 'He wants people to know that.' If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 24/7.
