Billy Joel reveals the awful secret that almost ended his life

The Piano Man has captivated audiences for decades with his unforgettable hits.

But Billy Joel just opened up about his darkest chapter in a shocking new way.

Joel finally came clean about the awful secret that almost ended his life.

A friendship betrayal that changed everything

Billy Joel’s new documentary premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival this week, and it’s already making headlines for all the wrong reasons.

"Billy Joel: And So It Goes" exposes the most painful period in the legendary musician’s life.

Back when Joel was in his early twenties, he played in a band called Attila alongside his closest friend Jon Small.

The arrangement seemed innocent enough at first.

Joel moved in with Small’s family, including Small’s wife Elizabeth Weber and their child.

But living in close quarters created an unexpected complication.

Joel and Weber developed feelings for each other that went far beyond friendship.

"Bill and I spent a lot of time together," Weber admitted in the documentary according to People Magazine.

She described their connection as "a slow build" that eventually became impossible to ignore.

The situation reached a breaking point when Joel could no longer hide his emotions.

He made the painful confession to his best friend: "I’m in love with your wife."

The guilt consumed Billy Joel completely

That confession destroyed everything Joel had built with his closest friend.

The betrayal sent shockwaves through both their personal and professional lives.

Joel’s admission in the documentary reveals the crushing weight of his actions.

"I felt very, very guilty about it. They had a child. I felt like a homewrecker," Joel confessed.

The confrontation that followed was ugly and deserved, Joel admitted.

"I was just in love with a woman, and I got punched in the nose, which I deserved. Jon was very upset. I was very upset."

Small’s anger was completely understandable given the circumstances.

The friendship crumbled instantly, and their band Attila dissolved along with it.

Joel found himself homeless and spiraling into a depression so severe it nearly killed him.

Rock bottom hit harder than Joel expected

Joel’s life completely fell apart after the betrayal came to light.

He had nowhere to go and ended up sleeping in public laundromats.

The emotional pain became overwhelming as his world collapsed around him.

"I had no place to live. I was sleeping in laundromats, and I was depressed, I think to the point of almost being psychotic," Joel revealed in the documentary.

The despair reached such depths that Joel saw only one escape from his suffering.

His thoughts turned to ending his life permanently.

"I figured, ‘That’s it. I don’t want to live anymore.’ I was just in a lot of pain and it was sort of like why hang out? Tomorrow is going to be just like today is, and today sucks. So, I just thought I’d end it all."

Joel’s sister, who worked as a medical assistant, had given him sleeping pills to help with his insomnia.

She had no idea her brother planned to use them for a much darker purpose.

Two close calls with death

Joel’s first suicide attempt involved taking all the sleeping pills his sister had provided.

The overdose put him in a coma that lasted for days.

His sister’s emotional account in the documentary captures the horror of that moment.

"But Billy decided that he was going to take all of them… he was in a coma for days and days and days," she said through tears.

"I went to go see him in the hospital, and he was laying there white as a sheet. I thought that I’d killed him."

Incredibly, Joel survived the overdose and woke from the coma.

But instead of feeling grateful for his second chance, his first thought was trying again.

Joel’s second attempt involved drinking lemon Pledge furniture polish.

Once again, Small rushed his former friend to the hospital and saved his life.

Forgiveness came slowly but surely

Despite everything that had happened between them, Small couldn’t let Joel die.

Joel reflected on this act of grace in the documentary.

"Even though our friendship was blowing up, Jon saved my life," Joel acknowledged.

Small later explained his motivations for helping despite the betrayal.

"He never really said anything to me. The only practical answer I can give as to why Billy took it so hard was because he loved me that much and that it killed him to hurt me that much. Eventually, I forgave him."

After his second brush with death, Joel admitted himself to a psychiatric observation ward.

The experience there became a turning point that changed his entire perspective.

Joel spent weeks confronting his demons and finding a path forward.

Music became Joel’s salvation

Joel’s time in the psychiatric ward gave him a new outlook on his pain.

Instead of letting the emotional turmoil destroy him, he learned to channel it constructively.

"I got out of the observation ward, and I thought to myself, ‘You can utilize all those emotions to channel that stuff into music,’" Joel explained.

That realization transformed his approach to songwriting and performing.

The raw emotions from his darkest period became fuel for his artistic expression.

Joel and Weber eventually reconciled years later and married in 1973.

Their relationship lasted until 1982, proving that sometimes love can survive even the messiest beginnings.

Joel’s legacy includes his lowest moments

The documentary shows how Joel’s near-death experiences shaped him into the artist millions know today.

His willingness to share these deeply personal struggles demonstrates remarkable courage.

Joel is currently dealing with a brain disorder that has forced him to cancel concerts.

But his openness about mental health and suicidal thoughts could help others facing similar battles.

The Piano Man’s story is a sobering reminder to crucify your flesh daily because private demons can easily extinguish the great plans meant for your life.

Joel’s survival and eventual success prove that redemption is possible even after the darkest chapters.