Billie Jean King and Elton John Celebrate Decades-Long Friendship in Sundance Documentary

At a Glance

• The documentary Give Me the Ball! chronicles the friendship between Billie Jean King and Elton John, premiering on Jan. 27 at Sundance.
• The film highlights their shared struggles with sexuality, food addiction, and the joy of mutual support.
• It showcases how two iconic figures from different worlds bonded over shared passion and vulnerability.
• Why it matters: The story offers an intimate look at how personal challenges can forge lasting connections and inspire public dialogue.

The documentary Give Me the Ball! premiered on Jan. 27 at the Sundance Film Festival, offering a deep dive into the life and legacy of tennis legend Billie Jean King and the “Rocket Man” singer Elton John. The film captures their decades-long friendship, their shared passions, and the candid moments that defined their bond.

The First Meeting

In the early 1970s, at a Los Angeles party, Tony introduced Elton to Billie. Elton recalled, “My friend Tony said, ‘Billie Jean King is over there.’ He said, ‘Come say hello,'” and he added, “I said, ‘No, I’m too shy.'” Billie echoed the nerves, saying, “Tony comes over and says, ‘Elton is dying to meet you, but he’s too shy,'” and she replied, “Ditto.” The mutual shyness turned into an instant connection that lasted a lifetime.

Building a Friendship

Both artists shared a drive to “do good things.” Elton explained, “I had never met anybody who is built exactly like I am – in the way of, ‘Let’s do this, let’s think forward, let’s do good things.'” Billie remembered, “We talked until 5:30 in the morning.” Their conversations grew deeper as they opened up about their shared struggles.

Shared Struggles

They confided in each other about being gay and battling food addiction. Billie said, “We confided in each other about how it was for each other and how hard it was to be gay,” adding, “We talked a lot about that and how it was horrible hiding.” Elton noted, “Billie Jean King being such a household name in sport and being gay, it was difficult. It was much easier for me. Everybody in the business knew I was gay. I mean, in show business, it’s not that big of a deal. I think it was much, much harder for her.”

Both also discussed food addiction, with Elton stating, “Those sorts of things take their toll, and we had very honest conversations about food, as an addictive substance. You have to eat to stay alive. I did other drugs, but the hardest drug to give up is food. We both suffered from that.”

Joyful Moments and Mutual Support

Billie’s involvement with World Team Tennis brought them closer. She recalled, “When I played team tennis for the Philadelphia Freedoms, Elton started coming to matches.” She added, “We had so much fun. We became great friends.” Elton said, “I just loved the idea of World Team Tennis. I said, ‘We should write you a song.'” Billie was stunned, “I went, ‘What did he just say? Did I just hear you say you want to write me a song?'” The song, Philadelphia Freedom, became a chart-topping hit, and Billie said, “I loved it from the first note.”

Billie also joined Elton at concerts whenever she could. She remembered, “One time he wanted me to be a backup vocalist. I said, ‘I can’t do that! I can’t sing a lick. Are you kidding me?’ I started running away, and the bodyguards picked me up and carried me onto the stage.” Elton laughed, “I don’t think she resisted that much.”

Timeline of Key Events

Key Takeaways

• The documentary showcases how shared passion can bridge different worlds.
• Their openness about sexuality and addiction offers a powerful narrative of vulnerability.
• Mutual support led to artistic collaboration, exemplified by Philadelphia Freedom.
• The film highlights the enduring nature of friendship built on trust and shared purpose.

Give Me the Ball! will be on screen through Feb. 1, inviting audiences to witness the story of two icons who found friendship in each other’s company.