Billy Joel is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist, who is also considered one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He was born on May 9, 1949, in the Bronx, New York as William Martin Joel. He would later shorten his name to “Billy Joel” and gain the nickname “Piano Man” after one of his signature songs. Joel started piano lessons at a young age and dropped out of high school to pursue music full-time.
At the start of his career, Joel would join two bands, The Hassles, and Attila, before signing up with the record label Family Productions. In 1971, he released his debut album “Cold Spring Harbor” but it was received poorly. Despite the setback, Joel joined a different label, this time with Columbia Records. During this time, he published his sophomore album “Piano Man” in 1973, and then “Streetlife Serenade” (1973) and “Turnstiles” (1976).
It was Joel’s fifth album “The Stranger” that finally brought the singer his commercial success. The album contained some of his biggest hits, like “Just The Way You Are” and “She’s Always A Woman.” According to the singer, it also has two of his personal favorites, “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” and “Vienna.” Since the peak of his fame, Joel has released 12 studio albums and won six Grammy awards.
When it comes to his musical career, it’s impossible to deny Joel’s stellar success. However, the singer admitted that he wasn’t as successful with his love life. With a career spanning decades, Joel was used to the tabloid gaze on his relationships and even his sexuality. Among the many question marks surrounding the singer’s private history is this: is Billy Joel gay? Find out the answer below.
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Billy Joel’s Relationships
Billy Joel is no stranger to love. In fact, the Piano Man has been married not once or twice, but actually four times in his life. But even throughout the length of his marriages, the public has always speculated about his true sexuality. The rumors likely stem from the fact that his relationships, unfortunately, never last.
Joel also enjoys a close friendship with openly gay singer and icon Elton John. The duo have previously gone on numerous tours together, prompting fans to think that there may be something more to the friendship. Some listeners even went as far as theorizing that Joel’s songs may allude to homosexual relationships.
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However, Joel has never commented on the speculations about his sexuality. The singer’s dating history also tells a different story. Here are the four women who’ve inspired some of Joel’s greatest hits and albums.
Billy Joel and Elizabeth Weber (1971-1982)
Joel’s first marriage to Elizabeth Weber is without a doubt his most scandalous. The pair first met in 1970 when Weber was still married to Joel’s former bandmate, Jon Small. Joel fell head over heels in love with her strong and outgoing personality and the two began an affair. After they were discovered, Weber left both Small and Joel, leaving the latter completely devastated.
In 1973, Joel and Weber reunited, got married, and she became her manager. During their relationship, the singer wrote the songs “She’s Got A Way” and “She’s Always A Woman” for his beloved wife. However, after nine years together, the couple would divorce and Joel would discover that Weber’s brother had stolen millions from him. The singer then sued Frank Weber for $30 million in damages.
Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley (1983-1994)
Not long after his divorce from Weber, Joel went on a holiday to St. Bart’s and met supermodels, Elle MacPherson and Christie Brinkley, and Whitney Houston, who was then an aspiring singer. Joel briefly dated MacPherson, which was controversial considering that the latter was only 19 years old while the singer was 33.
It’s strongly suggested that Joel’s hit song, “Uptown Girl,” was written for MacPherson and not Brinkley, despite the latter starring in the music video. The relationship ended and the singer moved on with Christie Brinkley.
Brinkley and Joel hit it off and got married in 1985. According to the singer, his album “The Innocent Man” was inspired by his second wife, with the hit song “This Is The Time” written especially for her. The couple also had their first and only child together, Alexa Ray Joel.
The marriage was not without its struggles. The couple was experiencing major financial setbacks due to Joel’s legal battles, forcing the singer to go on multiple tours. After rumors of cheating and unmanageable distance, the couple finally called it quits in 1994. Despite their split, they remained amicable for the sake of their daughter.
Billy Joel and Katie Lee (2003-2009)
After taking a long break from dating, Joel finally got together with culinary pro Katie Lee. They first met in 2003 when Lee was still in college and, after a year of dating, the pair tied the knot. It’s important to note that Joel’s third wife was only four years older than his daughter at the time, so the relationship raised a lot of brows. The pairing lasted for five years before Joel and Lee decided to separate.
According to sources, the couple just grew apart because of their age differences. The reason was not uncommon when it came to pairings with large age gaps. Although there were talks of an affair on Lee’s part, she strongly denied it. Lee is presently married to actor Ryan Biegel.
Billy Joel and Alexis Roderick (2009-Present)
Joel met his current and fourth wife, Alexis Roderick, during a group dinner in Huntington, New York shortly after his divorce from Lee. At the time, Roderick was working as an executive at Morgan Stanley and wasn’t interested in the singer. However, Joel was able to win her over and the two started dating. Roderick also moved into the singer’s Centre Island home.
In 2015, Roderick and Joel tied the knot during a surprise wedding on Long Island. The couple was also expecting their first child together. They welcomed their daughter Della Rose only a month after their nuptials. After two years, Roderick gave birth to another daughter, Remy Anne. Based on social media posts and interactions, the mother of two seems to get along with Joel’s ex-wives, Brinkley and Lee, and with his eldest daughter, Alexa.
When asked about his views on love, Joel’s sentiments can be summed up to a statement he shared with his biographer.
You can have all the money in the world, you can have mansions, you can have properties, you can have yachts, you can have limousines, you can have motorcycles. But without love, it doesn’t mean a goddamn thing.”
Billy Joel to his official biographer, Fred Schruers
Is Billy Joel Gay?
No, Billy Joel is not gay. There had been rumors about his sexuality due to his songs and close friendships with other gay musicians, but the singer has never officially commented on these matters. Joel was married four times, each time to a woman, and had three children. Based on these facts, the singer is likely straight.