T4K3.news

Billy Joel discusses rehab and marital challenges

Billy Joel shares insights about his rehab experience and challenges in marriage with Katie Lee.

July 28, 2025 at 01:44 PM

Billy Joel recalls wife giving him 'ultimatum' to go to rehab for drinking: 'I didn't want to do it'

In a new documentary, Billy Joel shares his challenges with rehab and relationships.

Billy Joel opens up about rehab experience and marriage struggles

Billy Joel has candidly discussed his struggles with alcohol and his marriage to Katie Lee in a new HBO Max documentary. He revealed that he entered rehab in 2005 due to an ultimatum from Lee, who urged him to seek help or risk losing their relationship. Joel acknowledged that his time in rehab did not mend the fragile state of their marriage, which ultimately ended in divorce in 2009. Lee commented on the lingering resentment of pushing him to go to rehab, while Joel reflected on his feelings of loneliness that led him back to drinking after their split. Both have since found new partners.

Key Takeaways

✔️

Billy Joel entered rehab in 2005 following an ultimatum from Katie Lee.

✔️

Lee expressed her feelings of resentment over pushing Joel to seek treatment.

✔️

The couple's marriage struggled significantly after Joel's return from rehab.

✔️

Divorce in 2009 led Joel to cope with loneliness by returning to drinking.

✔️

Both Joel and Lee have since remarried and moved on from past hardships.

✔️

Joel's experience reflects broader themes of addiction, relationships, and personal growth.

"You have to want to do it. I didn't want to do it."

Joel reflects on the necessity of personal desire in recovery.

"I wanted to be doing all of the things together, but... there was a little resentment."

Lee discusses the challenges of supporting Joel's recovery while managing their relationship.

"Three-time loser. And the fear of being alone again...so I was drinking again, just to kind of ease that pain."

Joel articulates the emotional impact of his divorces and loneliness.

Joel's reflections offer a glimpse into the complex realities many face when battling addiction and maintaining relationships. The pressures of fame, age differences, and personal struggles can strain connections. His journey raises questions about the role of support in recovery and highlights that ultimately, the desire to change must come from within. The candid portrayal of his past might encourage others grappling with similar issues to seek help, but it also serves as a reminder of the difficult consequences that can follow a lack of harmony in personal lives.

Highlights

The desire to change must come from within.
Loneliness can lead us down dark paths.
Addiction struggles reveal the fragility of love.
Recovery is a journey influenced by relationships.

Sensitive issue of addiction and marital conflict

Billy Joel's revelation about rehab and his marriage touches on sensitive themes of addiction and relationship strains, which may provoke public reaction or personal backlash.

As both Joel and Lee have moved forward, their experiences may inspire others facing similar challenges in their lives.

🏷️

billy joel rehab katie lee addiction divorce music celebrity

Enjoyed this? Let your friends know!