In HBO’s “Billy Joel: And So It Goes”, Joel debunks long‑standing DUI myths, opens up on depression and addiction, and sets the record straight on his real story.
Billy Joel is setting the record straight in his new HBO documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes, finally putting to rest a decades-old rumor that he ever faced DUI charges.
In candid footage, the Piano Man himself looks directly into the camera and declares, “There’s this rumor that I have all these DUIs. That never happened. So f‑‑‑ you.”
Though Joel was involved in three separate car accidents in 2002, 2003, and 2004, he emphatically insists that alcohol had nothing to do with any of them. “People keep repeating the myth,” he says.
Instead, Joel attributes those frightening incidents to a fog of depression and confusion that descended on him in the wake of the September 11 attacks and a painful breakup. “I was in a rough spot,” he admits, “but I never got behind the wheel drunk.”
The documentary doesn’t shy away from the darker chapters of Joel’s life. Viewers get an unfiltered look at his prolonged battle with substance abuse and the often lonely path toward recovery.
“I didn’t want to do this at first,” Joel confesses in an interview with PEOPLE. “It’s almost embarrassing. But I wanted to show the real story.”
Interwoven with personal reflections are intimate glimpses of Joel’s home life with his wife Alexis and their two daughters, Olivia and Della.
Home videos and family photos reveal a softer side of the rock legend, who traded sold‑out stadiums for kitchen recitals and backyard barbecues during the pandemic lockdowns.
Fans have been quick to rally behind him on social media. On X (formerly Twitter), one user wrote, “Billy’s honesty is why we love him—real talk from a real legend.” Another commented, “Can’t wait to watch and support Billy for telling the truth!”
With And So It Goes, Billy Joel has crafted more than just another rock‑star memoir—he’s delivered a raw, human portrait of resilience.
Whether you’ve followed him since the 1970s or are just discovering his music, this documentary is a heartfelt reminder that even icons face struggles—and that facing them head‑on can make for the most powerful stories of all.
What do you think of Billy’s no‑holds‑barred approach? Share your thoughts and favorite Joel memories in the comments below!
