In the two-part HBO docuseries “Billy Joel: And So It Goes,” directors Susan Lacy (“Spielberg”) and Jessica Levin delve into how the singer’s complex and often tumultuous life inspired songs that turned him into a rock legend.
Joel, a six-time Grammy winner and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, initially wasn’t interested in making the 248-minute documentary. But according to Lacy, Joel’s management convinced him that “it was the right time.” It turns out his team was right. Last year, Joel’s 10-year residency at Madison Square Garden ended, and in May 2025, the singer, 76, was diagnosed with a brain disorder known as Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus.
Despite his initial reluctance to make the doc, Joel doesn’t shy away from the dark parts of his personal life and career in the film. His three failed marriages, money mismanagement, and the singer’s checkered past with alcohol are all discussed in depth, making the series a refreshing reprieve from the glut of glossy music docs being released these days.
Lacy and Levin weave together archival footage, performance clips from Joel’s concerts, and interviews with Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Pink, Nas and all four of the singer’s wives to tell the story of a boy from Long Island who never dreamed about being a rock star on the level he became.
While the critical response to Joel’s pop success was negative, in the doc, the singer’s collaborators and peers explain how his music and exceptional talent were often overlooked by the media. Joel’s creative gifts are highlighted throughout the film when he talk about his craft, which includes the creation of various hit songs such as “Piano Man,” “Just the Way You Are,” and “We Didn’t Start The Fire.”
Pre-fame suicide attempts, Joel’s estranged father, his single mother’s depression and alcohol addiction, and the singer’s Jewish grandparents are all also part of the candid two-part documentary that will appeal to Joel’s fans and non-fans alike.
Variety spoke to Lacy and Levin about “Billy Joel: And So It Goes,” which premieres on HBO on Friday.
How did this documentary come about?
Lacy: I came to this film at the request of Playtone – Tom Hanks’ company. I didn’t know that much about Billy Joel. So for me, this film has been about learning and discovering all these incredible things.
Jessica, you have been producing Susan’s documentaries for the last 25 years. Why did you decide to co-direct this one with her?
Levin: The origin of the project was with Susan, and it was very much based on her reputation as a really masterful filmmaker of artists. I was fortunate that Susan saw that my knowledge of the music was an asset in this particular film. We share real artistic shorthand because we know each other so well. This film was a beast to tackle. I mean, it’s a big, long career so, it was really nice to have two minds to apply to it because there was a lot to figure out.
Did Joel produce this film or have any say over the final cut?
Lacy: No. We were given complete and utter independence. When I first asked him about whether there were any sensitivities, he said, ‘Tell the truth.’ He was hands-off on this film, and he didn’t see it until it was finished.
One issue that comes up throughout the doc is Joel’s issues around alcohol. His ex-wives talked about it, but he didn’t seem to want to elaborate that much on the topic. Was that a sensitive issue for him to speak about?
Lacy: I would say alcohol was difficult to talk to him about. I don’t think we are pretending that he didn’t have an alcohol problem. He did have an alcohol problem. It’s quite evident, and he does say he drank too much, and he talks about rehab. He didn’t want to go to rehab, but he did. So, it was a sensitive subject, but I feel like we handled it as honestly as we could.
All four of Joel’s wives are featured in the film, including Christie Brinkley, Katie Lee, and his first wife and manager, Elizabeth Weber, who played a pivotal role in helping Joel become a star. Was it difficult to convince the ex-wives to participate in the film?
Lacy: We knew we wanted to interview all of them, but the tough one was Elizabeth. She spent 40 years not talking about Billy Joel – not mentioning his name. I mean, her son, who was with Billy for the first 16 years of his life, had girlfriends who didn’t even know that he ever had a connection to Billy Joel. That’s how separated they were from that life. So, it was not easy to get Elizabeth to participate. I had to really work hard on that. I told her that I wanted to tell her story. I said, “I think your story hasn’t been told. I think you’ve been misrepresented on social media. I think you’re a huge part of why Billy became Billy.”
A lot of famous musicians like Pink and Bruce Springsteen speak about Joel and his musical influence throughout the docuseries. Why was it important for you to include those interviews?
Lacy: Bruce Springsteen is someone that Billy has always been compared to. Both are from the working class and are bridge and tunnel artists but (Springsteen) has always gotten more attention and a lot more approval from the critics than Billy. So, to have somebody like Bruce Springsteen address that and say, “I think that they missed a lot of Billy’s really good work because he didn’t fit a particular mold” mattered. Musicians know musicians, and they understand how good Billy was. So, I thought that it was important to include.
The film gets political when you tell the story of Joel wearing the yellow Star of David on his lapel at a 2017 concert at New York’s MSG following the deadly white-nationalist protest in Charlottesville, Va., and Donald Trump’s controversial remarks following the incident. Was there any hesitation in the edit about including Trump, a polarizing figure, into the film?
Lacy: The minute that I saw the footage of Billy walking on stage wearing that Yellow Star, I knew we had to get that story into the film. I did wonder whether Billy, when he saw the film, would say, “I don’t want (Trump) attacking me,” but Billy didn’t say a word.
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