Parts one and two will debut, respectively, on July 18 and July 25 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Both parts run two hours and 24 minutes. As previously reported, the documentary got its world premiere on June 4 at the Beacon Theatre in New York City as part of the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival.
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An official synopsis for And So It Goes explains that the film offers “an expansive portrait of the life and music of Billy Joel, exploring the love, loss, and personal struggles that fuel his songwriting.” The movie features “never-before-seen performances, home movies, and personal photographs, along with extensive, in-depth one-on-one interviews.”
The film is crafted around in-depth exclusive conversations with the Piano Man. In the interviews, Joel delved into key moments that had an impact on his personal life, music, and career. Billy also discussed the music that influenced his own songwriting, the romantic relationships that inspired many of his tunes, and the origin stories of many of his classic compositions. In addition, Joel talked about the positive and negative experiences he had with certain musical collaborators and associates.
And So It Goes features appearances by a variety of other famous artists, and some of Joel’s family members, friends, and band members. The family members include current wife Alexis, daughter Alexa Ray, and ex-wives Elizabeth Weber, Christie Brinkley, and Katie Lee. Among the famous musicians featured in the documentary are Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, John Mellencamp, Garth Brooks, Nas, and Pink.
A new press statement about the film also revealed specific details about each part.
Part one of the documentary features Joel reflecting his childhood growing up as the son of working-class parents on Long Island, New York. He also discusses the painful experience of his father and mother divorcing when he was eight, and his early years in the music business, first playing in various local bands and then going solo.
The first part of the doc also focuses on Joel’s relationship with his first wife and early manager Weber, who inspired such classic songs as “Just the Way You Are” and “She’s Always a Woman.”
The segment also follows Joel’s rise to stardom, from the creation of his signature tune “Piano Man” and signing with Columbia Records to enjoying a run of huge hits and successful tours in the late 1970s and early ’80s.
In addition, part one looks at Joel’s complicated personal life, issues with alcohol, and the near-fatal 1982 motorcycle accident that threatened to derail his music career.
The documentary’s second part looks at how Joel’s songwriting matured and his musical focus changed during 1980s and ’90s,. Billy also discusses his complicated reunion with his father, who moved back to Europe after divorcing his mother.
Part two also tells the story of how Joel met supermodel Brinkley, who became the mother of his first child, Alexa, and partly inspired his hit “Uptown Girl.”
Other highlights of the film’s second part include looks at Joel’s tours with Elton John, his foray into classical music, and historic Madison Square Garden residency. The movie also explores Billy’s relationship with current wife Alexis, and their two young daughters.
As previously reported, Joel was recently diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, a rare brain disorder brought on by an excess of cerebrospinal fluid collecting in the brain. As a result of the diagnosis — and the ongoing issues with hearing, vision, and balance that it presents — Joel canceled all of his upcoming tour dates.
The health issue also forced Joel to cancel plans to attend the premiere screening of And So It Goes.
In May, Alexa Ray Joel posted a message on her Instagram noting that her father was “entirely committed to making a full recovery with ongoing physical-therapy treatments as he continues to regain his strength.”
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