Billy Joel's First Wife Breaks Silence: A Glimpse into Their Timeless Love Story

SHOCKING CONFIDENTIAL: BILLY JOEL'S FIRST EX-WIFE BREAKS HER SILENCE AFTER 43 YEARS!

In a stunning revelation that has sent shockwaves through the music industry, Billy Joel's first ex-wife Elizabeth Ann Weber has finally opened up about their tumultuous eight-year marriage in an exclusive interview with People. The silver-haired siren, who was seen walking the blue carpet at the Tribeca premiere of her husband's film And So It Goes alongside her 59-year-old son Sean Small, has spoken candidly about their whirlwind romance and subsequent divorce.

For decades, Elizabeth's personal life has been shrouded in mystery, with fans and critics alike speculating about the reasons behind her departure from Billy Joel. But now, in a rare display of vulnerability, she's sharing her side of the story. "It was great then, it's great whenever I think about it, and it's great now [to revisit]," Elizabeth revealed, her voice filled with emotion.

Elizabeth's journey to fame began long before she met Billy Joel. A native New Yorker, she was born into a life of privilege, but it wasn't until she met the five-time Grammy winner that her life took a dramatic turn. Their romance was marked by passion and intensity, with Billy confessing in the documentary And So It Goes that he "got punched in the nose" by Elizabeth's then-husband Jon Small after he discovered their affair.

But what happened next is a tragic tale of heartbreak and addiction. After leaving Jon, Elizabeth rekindled her romance with Billy Joel, and they married in 1973. However, as the pressures of fame mounted, Billy's substance abuse issues began to take hold. Elizabeth, who had been instrumental in launching his career as his manager, eventually left him due to his struggles.

In a candid admission, Elizabeth revealed that she was exhausted by Billy's antics and struggled to cope with the aftermath of their split. "I was just in love with a woman," Joel confessed in the doc. "And I got punched in the nose [by Jon], which I deserved." But what few people know is that Billy's depression over his heartbreak inspired him to write his 1971 debut album, Cold Spring Harbor, featuring the song She's Got a Way - a poignant tribute to Elizabeth.

Elizabeth soon rekindled her romance with Joel, and they married in 1973. However, their relationship was marked by turmoil, with Billy attempting suicide twice due to his heartbreak over losing Elizabeth as both his wife and manager. "You can't even do yourself in," Billy quipped about his failed attempts, but what's less well-known is that Elizabeth played a crucial role in pushing him towards recovery.

As a shrewd businesswoman, Elizabeth negotiated an impressive deal for herself when she became Billy Joel's manager. She cleverly secured the publishing rights to his music, including the chart-topping hit Just The Way You Are - which she inspired with her birthday request: "Do I get the publishing too?" This savvy move catapulted Billy Joel to superstardom, and Elizabeth's influence can be seen in many of his hit songs.

Elizabeth also played a pivotal role in shaping Billy's music career. As his manager, she championed his 1977 ballad Just The Way You Are as the second single off his fifth studio album, The Stranger - which went on to win him two Grammys and cemented his status as a music icon. In fact, Elizabeth even helped push Billy to choose this "mushy" love song as the follow-up single.

But what's often overlooked is that Elizabeth's influence extends far beyond her role as manager. Her romance with Billy inspired many of his songs, including The Stranger and She's Always a Woman - both of which have become timeless classics. Even in Piano Man, one of Billy Joel's most beloved hits, Elizabeth is name-checked as the "waitress practicing politics."

However, their relationship eventually soured due to Billy's continued substance abuse issues. In 1982, he suffered a gruesome motorcycle accident that left him with surgery on his right wrist and left thumb. "I was amazed that I was still alive," Billy recalled in the documentary. "I should've died in that accident."

Sadly, Billy Joel was unable to attend the premiere of And So It Goes due to his recent diagnosis with normal pressure hydrocephalus - a brain disorder that affects hearing, vision, and balance. However, co-director Susan Lacy reassured fans that Billy will make a full recovery: "He's going to be fine," she said. "He just needs to recover. He needs to do the physical therapy, which he's doing — the doctors were telling him yesterday he'll be fine."

In an exclusive interview with The Scholarly Note.com, executive producer Steve Cohen praised Elizabeth for her bravery in sharing her story: "She's been maligned incredibly in the blogosphere," he said. "But we're so proud of her for coming forward and sharing her side of the story."