After more than four decades of silence, Billy Joel’s first wife Elizabeth Weber is finally speaking out, and fans of the Piano Man are stunned.
Making a rare public appearance at the Tribeca Festival premiere of Billy Joel: And So It Goes, Weber, now 76, reflected on her time with the iconic musician 43 years after their divorce. The two were married for nine years, from 1973 to 1982, and though their relationship has long been the subject of speculation and criticism, Weber says the experience was nothing short of “great.”
In an exclusive interview with People, Elizabeth Weber opened up about her decision to participate in the two-part documentary and why she felt the time was finally right. “It was great then, it’s great whenever I think about it, and it’s great now,” she said. For Weber, getting involved wasn’t an easy yes. She values her privacy and admitted she wasn’t immediately on board, even though longtime friend and executive producer Steve Cohen was involved. It wasn’t until director Susan Lacy approached her directly and with sincerity that she finally agreed.
What sealed the deal? Billy Joel himself had licensed the music for the film, something that reassured Weber that the project would be both respectful and musically rich. “So it felt right-and it still does,” she shared. Interestingly, it was her granddaughters who initially encouraged her to speak out, urging her to embrace her role in music history and finally share her side of the story.
Cohen, who has remained close friends with Weber since his early career days, told People that it was absolutely “crucial” for Elizabeth to be part of the documentary. He acknowledged the harsh online criticism she’s endured over the years, saying, “She’s been maligned incredibly in the blogosphere.” But to him, the story of Billy Joel wouldn’t be complete without her voice.
Weber wasn’t the only one making headlines at the premiere. While Joel himself wasn’t present, he recently canceled tour dates due to a rare brain condition, the event was star-studded. Whoopi Goldberg, Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro, and Mariska Hargitay attended the premiere at New York City’s Beacon Theatre on June 4.
The documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes digs deep into the “Vienna” singer’s life, from his modest beginnings in Long Island to becoming a global music legend. It features rare archival footage, interviews with people close to Joel, and, for the first time ever, commentary from the woman who stood by his side during his early climb to fame.
Elizabeth Weber played a unique dual role in Joel’s life, wife and business manager, during a critical era of his career. Although they never had children together, their partnership was central to the rise of Billy Joel as a household name. Since their divorce in 1982, Joel has gone on to marry three more times and is currently married to Alexis Roderick, whom he wed in 2015.
Weber’s return to the spotlight brings a human element to Joel’s larger-than-life story. After years of staying out of the limelight, she’s finally telling her truth, not to clear her name, not to settle scores, but because it felt like the right moment. And with the world finally listening, her voice adds a whole new layer to the legacy of Billy Joel.
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