Billy Joel joins Bill Maher for podcast interview, his first since health issues were revealed

Billy Joel will appear Monday on Bill Maher’s podcast, "Club Random," the singer’s first interview since canceling his upcoming tour dates in May following his diagnosis with a brain disorder.

The episode also marks the first time Maher has taken his podcast on the road, interviewing Joel in Florida. Joel has been living primarily in Boca Raton since late 2024, though his publicist says the episode was not filmed at his home.

The subject of the podcast will be "Billy Joel: And So It Goes," the two-part, five-hour documentary on the Long Island singer-songwriter that debuted on HBO Friday. In a preview of the podcast, Joel sits for his interview at a piano — much like he does in the documentary — in a spacious room with large windows while Maher sits in a chair nearby. Joel looks thinner than usual, but otherwise healthy and energetic.

During what appears to be a friendly, mutually appreciative conversation, the two discuss some of the meanings behind Joel’s songs that he has revealed in the film.

Touching on "Always a Woman to Me," one of Joel’s signature ballads, Maher cites lyrics that portray a domineering figure who "steals like a thief" and is "cruel." Joel agrees: "What’s up with this chick?" he says jokingly. But Maher also alludes to the fact that the song was written about Elizabeth Weber, who functioned as Joel’s highly aggressive manager but was also his wife. "She’s always a woman to me," Joel replies, emphasizing the final word.

The two also touch on such songs as "She’s Got a Way," "She’s Right on Time" and "Only the Good Die Young."

Maher’s episode with Joel will debut Monday on YouTube, Spotify and other podcast platforms.

By Rafer Guzmán

rafer.guzman@newsday.com