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Billy Joel’s first wife breaks silence on their marriage as she takes starring role in his new HBO doc

BBG News

43 years following their divorce, Billy Joel’s first ex-wife, Elizabeth Ann Weber, spoke publicly for the first time about their eight-year marriage. This occurred during the premiere of his film “And So It Goes” at Tribeca, New York City, on a Wednesday.

In the initial segment of Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin’s two-part documentary, airing next month on HBO Max, the silver-haired muse takes center stage as the main character. This documentary focuses on the 76-year-old singer.

The first half of Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin’s two-part documentary, premiering next month on HBO Max, features the silver-haired muse in a leading role. This documentary is about the life of a 76-year-old singer.

Elizabeth mused to People that it was wonderful back then, still brings joy when she recalls it, and is delightful to reminisce on it now.

When Susan spoke to me in a deeply personal manner, it struck a chord with me. Then, Billy obtained the rights for some great music, which reinforced my initial impression. As a result, everything felt right then and continues to do so now.

Additionally, Weber acknowledged her granddaughters and a trusted confidant, Steve Cohen who served as the executive producer, for persuading her to set aside her tranquil personal lifestyle and participate in the documentary titled “And So It Goes.

‘She’s been maligned incredibly in the blogosphere,’ Cohen noted.

As a proud New York native, I strolled down the azure carpet at the Beacon Theatre hand-in-hand with my 59-year-old son, Sean Small – a child born from my first marriage to Jon Small. Our union, unfortunately, came to an end after my well-known affair with Billy, a member of his band Atilla.

In the documentary, Joel admitted that he had deeply fallen for a woman. He went on to say that he received a punch in the face from Jon, an action he acknowledged was warranted.

In a swift departure, Elizabeth parted ways with not one but two gentlemen, leaving behind a five-time Grammy laureate who was enduring significant distress. This distress led her to contemplate taking her own life on two separate occasions. Initially, she tried using sleeping pills, and later, she attempted to do so by consuming an entire bottle of furniture polish.

‘You can’t even do yourself in,’ Billy said of his failed attempts.

However, the despair from Joel’s heartbreak fueled his creativity, leading him to compose his first album, Cold Spring Harbor, released in 1971. This album included the song “She’s Got a Way,” which was influenced by Weber.

Joel’s heartbreak led to depression, but this emotional turmoil sparked an artistic response within him. He channeled his feelings into creating his debut album, Cold Spring Harbor, in 1971. The song “She’s Got a Way” on that album was inspired by Weber.

Small stated, in the documentary, that it was evident from the song lyrics that he deeply loved Elizabeth.

In a short span of time, Elizabeth once again sparked her relationship with Joel, they tied the knot in 1973, and shortly thereafter, she took on the role of his manager, transforming his career for good.

As reported by The Washington Post, when the Bronx-born musician wrote “Just The Way You Are” as a tribute to Weber’s birthday, she cleverly asked: “Am I also entitled to the royalties?

factually, it was the alumnus from NYU who encouraged Billy to release the ‘mushy’ ballad from his fifth studio album The Stranger as the second single. This song reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, earned him two Grammys, and marked a significant milestone in his career.

Additionally, Elizabeth played a role in composing Joel’s songs “The Stranger” and “She’s Always a Woman,” and was subtly referenced in his 1973 chart-topper “Piano Man” as the “waitress discussing world problems.” (In other words, she was the one studying politics while working.)

However, due to the substance abuse issues of the Tony award recipient, Weber grew weary and chose to end both his management role and personal relationship with him. This occurred around the same time as his 1982 motorcycle accident under the influence, which necessitated surgery on his right wrist and left thumb.

In the documentary, Billy expressed astonishment, saying, “It’s incredible I survived,” as he had been involved in an accident back in 1983 with Christie Brinkley. He added, “Given what happened, I thought for sure I wouldn’t have made it.

Regrettably, it was not possible for Joel to be present at his premiere on Wednesday, as he has recently been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus – a condition affecting the brain that leads to problems with hearing, sight, and balance.

‘He’s going to be fine,’ co-director Susan Lacy told THR.

‘He simply needs time to heal. He’s currently undergoing physical therapy, and the doctors reassured him yesterday that he should make a full recovery.’

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2025-06-06 01:03

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