Latest news with #PianoMan
Fox News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Billy Joel fires back at persistent DUI rumors that have plagued his reputation for years
Billy Joel set the record straight on longstanding rumors that he was charged with driving under the influence. The "Piano Man" addressed the DUI allegations in his new, two-part HBO documentary, "Billy Joel: And So It Goes." Joel, 76, who was recently diagnosed with a brain disorder, was involved in a number of car accidents over the years, but denied that alcohol had any involvement. "I didn't like the tabloid kind of press. For example, there's this rumor that I have all these DUIs," Joel said, per People magazine. "That never happened." He added, "But people keep repeating the myth. 'Oh, he's got so many DUIs.' I never had a DUI. So f--- you." Joel asserted that "the press can be mean," and admitted that "having that much attention paid to you is not easy." The "Movin' Out" musician crashed his car multiple times in a three-year span beginning in 2002. He told the New York Times magazine in 2013 that the incidents were due to his "mental fog," not being under the influence. "I never had a DUI in my life. That's another fallacy. Look at the police records," he told the outlet. "My mind wasn't right. I wasn't focused. I went into a deep, deep depression after 9/11. 9/11 just knocked the wind out of me, and I don't know even now if I've recovered from it. "It really, really hurt that man could do that to man. And then there was a breakup with somebody, and it took me a while to get me back on my feet again." Joel revealed his normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) diagnosis in May, and said that the condition had been "exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance." The statement at the time continued, "Under his doctor's instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period. Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritizing his health." NPH is a condition that happens when cerebrospinal fluid builds up inside the skull and presses on the brain. This condition is most likely to occur in people over age 65. Treating this condition involves surgery to implant a shunt to drain excess fluid from the inside of the skull, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Joel canceled all of his tour dates earlier this year to recover from a "recent surgery and to undergo physical therapy under the supervision of his doctors." The "We Didn't Star the Fire" musician married his fourth wife, Alexis Roderick, during a surprise wedding on July 4, 2015. The couple has two daughters together.
New York Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Billy Joel speaks out about rumors he's had DUIs in new documentary
The Piano Man is defending his reputation. In the newly released second part of the HBO documentary 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes,' the 76-year-old music icon responded to the longstanding rumor that he's gotten multiple DUIs over the years. 'You know, along with fame comes a lot of gossip, rumors. I didn't like the tabloid kind of press,' Joel said in the doc. 'For example, there's this rumor that I have all these DUIs. That never happened, but people keep repeating the myth: 'Oh, he's got so many DUIs.'' Advertisement 6 Billy Joel performs at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas in Nov. 2024. Getty Images 'I never had a DUI,' he added, 'so f–k you.' Joel was first accused of drinking behind the wheel when he crashed a Mercedes-Benz in East Hampton, New York in June 2002. Less than a year later, he drove into a tree in Sag Harbor and had to be airlifted to a hospital. Advertisement 6 Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden in NYC in June 2023. Getty Images The 'Uptown Girl' singer suffered another accident in April 2004 when he crashed into a house in Long Island. The rumors about Joel led to 'Saturday Night Live' referencing his alleged drunk driving in a 2004 sketch that featured Horatio Sanz, who played the singer, chugging a bottle of pineapple schnapps and crashing into several walls and mailboxes while driving a group of girls to a party. However, Joel has repeatedly denied that he's ever gotten a DUI. Advertisement 6 Billy Joel performs in Melbourne, Australia in Dec. 2022. WireImage 'I had gone through a breakup and was really broken up about it, and I decided, 'I'm drinking too much. I should go to rehab,'' Joel told The New York Times Magazine in 2013. 'But people made a connection, like, 'Oh, he went there because he was in a car accident from drinking.' No.' 'I never had a DUI in my life,' he stated. 'That's another fallacy. Look at the police records.' 6 Billy Joel on Father's Day 2025. billyjoel/Instagram Advertisement In his documentary, Joel called the press 'mean' and admitted that he doesn't always enjoy being in the spotlight. 'Having that much attention paid to you is not easy,' he said. In 2005, Joel entered rehab following what he called an 'ultimatum' from his then-wife, Katie Lee. He entered the Betty Ford Center for a stint, then temporarily stopped touring once his time at the center was over. 6 Billy Joel attends MSG Entertainment and Billy Joel special franchise announcement at Chase Square at Madison Square Garden. Getty Images The 'Honesty' singer has been sober for several years now. 'I stopped [drinking] a couple of years ago,' Joel told the Los Angeles Times in 2023. 'It wasn't a big AA kick. I just got to a point where I'd had enough.' 6 Billy Joel at SiriusXM Studios in Los Angeles in Oct. 2024. Getty Images for SiriusXM Advertisement 'I didn't enjoy being completely inebriated, and it probably created more problems in my life than I needed,' he added. Both parts of 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes' are now streaming on HBO Max.
Metro
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Billy Joel reveals how Sir Elton John 'really hurt' him in huge feud
Sir Elton John and Billy Joel fell out for several years (Picture: SGranitz/WireImage) Sir Elton John has had his fair share of celebrity feuds in his time, from Madonna to Billy Joel, who has now revealed why there was 'bad blood'. The Rocket Man and Piano Man hitmakers once toured together, but the aftermath left a rift between them, which took years to heal. Billy, 76, revealed in his documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes, which aired its second part on Friday, that he was 'really hurt' by comments made by Sir Elton. The duo had been on their Face to Face tour, which they kicked off in 1994,when Sir Elton addressed several cancellations in an interview with Rolling Stone. 'Elton had made a comment that he thought I needed real rehab,' Billy said in the documentary of the fallout. 'He chalked it up to, 'Oh, he's a drunk.' And that really hurt me,' he explained. The pair had been on tour together at the time (Picture: Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images) Billy said the comments 'really hurt' him(Picture: Scott Gries/ImageDirect) At the time, Sir Elton had given some 'tough love' and said: 'He's going to hate me for this, but every time he goes to rehab they've been light.' Billy was struggling with alcoholism and has previously admitted it destroyed his decade-long marriage to Christie Brinkley, 71. The couple officially divorced around the same time the Face to Face tour began, having tied the knot in 1985. 'I said 'wait a minute? Don't you know me better than that?' And there was bad blood for a little while,' Billy continued. 'There was a dovetailing of things that happened during that time.' He said he felt 'clobbered' after the comments and hit rock bottom afterwards, with his relationship with Sir Elton suffering. As the tour kicked off he had just split with Christie Brinkley (Picture: Bettmann Archive) The Face to Face tour was a huge success (Picture:) 'I was disillusioned with what I thought it was all supposed to mean,' he said. 'It was like all the signs were pointing to me: Enough. And I wrote this letter to the band. 'I don't want to do this anymore. I'm gonna stop.'' It was then in 2005 that Billy went to rehab at The Betty Ford Clinic after the insistence of then-wife Katie Lee, who he split with four years later. They resumed the Face to Face tour throughout the 00s with a brief leg in 2009 before wrapping again in 2010 with Billy claiming touring together restrained his setlist. Billy recently confirmed he had completely given up alcohol, blaming his addiction for his health diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). He was forced to cancel all his scheduled concerts earlier this month after the condition appeared to have been exacerbated by performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance. 'Nobody knows [what causes it]. They don't know,' the Uptown Girl chart-topper shared on Bill Maher's Club Random Podcast. They continued the joint tour throughout the 00s (Picture: KMazur/WireImage) Sir Elton and Billy firmly buried the hatchet in 2013 (Picture:) Billy added: 'I thought it must be from drinking. I don't anymore, but I used to like a fish.' In an interview with the Los Angeles Times in 2023, he shared of his addiction: 'It wasn't a big AA kick. I just got to a point where I'd had enough. I didn't enjoy being completely inebriated, and it probably created more problems in my life than I needed.' As for his relationship with Sir Elton, the pair patched things up while on stage at the Songwriters' Hall of Fame in 2013. While accepting the Johnny Mercer award, the Tiny Dancer icon extended an olive branch and said: 'Mr. Joel, I haven't seen you tonight, but I love you dearly.' Responding to his old friend, when Billy took the stage, he said: 'Is Elton still here? By the way, we're ok. Call me, it's the same phone number.' Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
New York Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Billy Joel opens up about fallout with Elton John over ‘hurtful' rehab remark: ‘There was bad blood'
Billy Joel and Elton John haven't always seen eye to eye. During the newly released second part of HBO's 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes' documentary, Joel revealed how John's public push for him to enter rehab caused a major rift between the two music superstars. 'Elton had made a comment that he thought I needed real rehab,' the 'Movin' Out' singer said in the new doc. 'He chalked it up to, 'Oh, he's a drunk.' And that really hurt me.' Advertisement 9 Elton John and Billy Joel onstage at the Honda Center on March 30, 2009, in Anaheim, California. Getty Images 9 Elton John performs with Billy Joel during the finale of 'An All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson' concert on March 29, 2001, at New York's Radio City Music Hall. AP 'I said, wait a minute? Don't you know me better than that?' Joel, 76, added. 'And there was bad blood for a little while. There was a dovetailing of things that happened during that time.' Advertisement The 'Piano Man' singer was referring to an interview John, 78, gave Rolling Stone in 2011 shortly after the pair toured together. After John claimed that he and Joel had 'so many cancelled tours' because of 'illnesses' and 'alcoholism,' he suggested that the 'Captain Jack' singer seek real help. 9 Elton John backstage with Billy Joel at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards on February 23, 2000, in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images 'He's going to hate me for this, but every time he goes to rehab, they've been light,' the 'Tiny Dancer' musician said at the time. 'I love you, Billy, and this is tough love.' Advertisement Recalling how he felt after John's interview was published, Joel said that he was 'clobbered' and had hit 'rock bottom.' 'I was disillusioned with what I thought it was all supposed to mean,' he said in the second part of the new HBO doc. 'It was like all the signs were pointing to me: Enough.' 9 Billy Joel and Elton John attend an event for the Elton John AIDS Foundation on November 7, 2017, in New York City. Getty Images 'And I wrote this letter to the band,' he added. ''I don't want to do this anymore. I'm gonna stop.'' Advertisement Joel previously started rehab in 2005 following what he called an 'ultimatum' from his then-wife, Katie Lee. He entered the Betty Ford Center for a stint, then temporarily stopped touring once his time at the center was over. 9 Elton John and Billy Joel perform in Washington, DC, during their Face2Face Tour on July 11, 2009. The Washington Post via Getty Images The 'Vienna' singer has since quit drinking altogether. 'I stopped a couple of years ago,' Joel told the Los Angeles Times in 2023. 'It wasn't a big AA kick. I just got to a point where I'd had enough.' 'I didn't enjoy being completely inebriated, and it probably created more problems in my life than I needed,' he added. 9 Elton John and Billy Joel at the Carrier Dome on the Syracuse University campus on May 5, 2001. AP Elsewhere in the new 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes' documentary, the Grammy-winner revealed that he didn't like being compared to Elton John – even if they were close friends and frequent tourmates. Advertisement 'Why would I wanna work with another well-known piano player's band?' Joel said while discussing an incident when some suggested he use John's band. 'The lack of imagination was staggering,' he added. 'And I was already having a critical issue with them comparing me to Elton.' 9 Elton John and Billy Joel at the Oracle Arena on February 13, 2010, in Oakland, California. WireImage More recently, Joel has made headlines for a shocking brain disorder diagnosis that has forced the 'Stranger' artist to cancel all his concerts through next year. Advertisement Called normal pressure hydrocephalus, the condition affects one's hearing, vision and balance. Joel announced that he was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus in May, and he also revealed that he had to cancel his 2025 tour because his condition was 'exacerbated by recent concert performances.' 9 Billy Joel performs during his 150th show at Madison Square Garden on July 25, 2024, in New York City. Getty Images Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period,' a statement from his team read. 'Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving.' Advertisement The message added that Joel is 'grateful for the support from fans during this time and looks forward to the day when he can once again take the stage.' Joel then opened up about his 'scary' brain disorder diagnosis earlier this month. 9 Billy Joel attends the MSG Entertainment and Billy Joel special franchise announcement at Chase Square at Madison Square Garden on June 01, 2023, in New York City. Getty Images 'I know a lot of people are worried about me and my health, but I'm okay,' he told People in an interview published July 21. 'What I have is something very few people know about, including me, no matter how much you try to research it.' Advertisement 'I'm doing my best to work with it and to recover from it,' he shared. Sadly, the legendary songwriter's diagnosis forced him to miss the world premiere of 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes' when it played at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival in June. Both parts of HBO's new Billy Joel documentary are now streaming.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
NEWS OF THE WEEK: Billy Joel feeling 'good' after brain condition diagnosis
In May, the Piano Man hitmaker announced he would be cancelling his upcoming tour dates, as he was suffering from normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). During an interview for the Club Random with Bill Maher podcast on Monday, Billy explained that his condition was "still being worked on" by doctors. 'I feel fine. My balance sucks. It's like being on a boat. I feel good, they keep referring to what I have as a brain disorder, so it sounds a lot worse than what I'm feeling.' Billy went on to note that he doesn't know exactly what led him to develop NPH. However, he believes being a heavy drinker in the past may have played a role.
