Billy Joel Reveals Affair and Suicide Attempts in Haunting Documentary

Note: 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).

In a heart-wrenching revelation, music legend Billy Joel has opened up about a dark chapter of his life that nearly ended his iconic career. In his documentary "Billy Joel: And So It Goes," premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, the "Piano Man" singer shared the emotional turmoil of an affair that led to two suicide attempts and a coma.

Back in his early 20s, Joel found himself entangled in a devastating personal crisis. As part of the band Attila with his best friend Jon Small, he moved in with Small’s family, including Small’s wife, Elizabeth Weber. What started as a close friendship with Weber slowly evolved into a forbidden romance. Joel confessed his love for her to Small, a betrayal that shattered their friendship, dissolved the band, and left Joel drowning in guilt.

"I felt like a homewrecker," Joel admitted, reflecting on the pain of breaking apart a family with a young child. The fallout was catastrophic—homeless, depressed, and spiraling, he resorted to sleeping in laundromats, feeling life had no purpose. This despair drove him to attempt suicide twice—first with an overdose of sleeping pills, which left him in a coma, and later by ingesting furniture polish. Miraculously, he survived both, thanks to Small, who, despite their fractured bond, rushed him to the hospital.

In a poignant twist, Small later reflected that Joel’s anguish stemmed from the deep love and regret he felt for hurting a friend. Forgiveness eventually mended their rift, but not before Joel checked himself into an observation ward to confront his demons. That experience, he says, was a turning point, teaching him to channel his pain into his music—a decision that would define his legacy.

Years later, Joel and Weber reconnected and married, though their union lasted only from 1973 to 1982. Today, Joel’s story is a raw reminder of the fragility beneath fame, and how even the darkest notes can be transformed into melodies of survival.