Billy Joel Addresses Rumors of DUI and Shares Personal Struggles

In his recent HBO documentary, “Billy Joel: And So It Goes,” the singer publicly refuted rumors claiming he has a history of multiple DUIs. “There’s this myth that I have all these DUIs, but I’ve never had one,” Joel emphasized. “People keep repeating it, but it’s false.”

Throughout the documentary, Joel discussed his tumultuous past, including several car accidents in the early 2000s. Notably, in June 2002, he was airlifted to a hospital following a serious crash. Additional incidents occurred in 2003 and 2004. In a 2013 interview, he clarified that these accidents resulted from mental fog rather than alcohol, stating, “My mind wasn’t right. I wasn’t focused.”

Joel also revealed the profound impact of the September 11 attacks, describing how he was deeply affected and even fell into depression. “9/11 really knocked the wind out of me,” he shared, adding that the tragedy left him struggling emotionally for years.

In the documentary, Joel opened up about a dark period when he contemplated suicide after falling in love with Elizabeth Weber while living in her home. Weber recalls their romance, mentioning that Joel felt “like a homewrecker” and was overwhelmed with guilt. Joel admitted to feeling broken, saying, “I was in a lot of pain, thinking life was just too much to handle.”

He also recounted a traumatic experience when his sister, Judy Molinari, gave him sleeping pills, which resulted in a coma that lasted several days. “I thought I’d killed him,” she recalled, reflecting on the frightening incident.

After years of struggles, Joel learned to channel his emotions into his music, ultimately finding solace and success. Despite past hardships, he has maintained a prolific career and continues to perform around the world.