At a Glance
- Billy Eichner will release Billy on Billy: An Audio Memoir on May 19, 2026, exclusively in audio format
- The memoir offers a personal look at his Queens upbringing, family, and creative journey
- Eichner chose audio-only so fans can hear his “real voice” beyond the loud Billy on the Street persona
- Why it matters: Listeners get the first unfiltered account of how a chubby gay kid from Queens built a viral comedy brand
Billy Eichner, the fast-talking creator of Billy on the Street, is dropping the mic-and picking up a heartfelt audio memoir this spring.
Audio-Only Tell-All Set for Spring Drop
Amanda S. Bennett reported that Billy on Billy: An Audio Memoir lands May 19, 2026, via Macmillan Audio. The release will be audio-only, a deliberate choice by Eichner so audiences can hear the man behind the yell.
“I wanted the book to be released exclusively in audio so that my fans could get a better sense of my real voice and where I came from,” Eichner said.
From Street Interviews to Inner Life
Since 2012, Billy on the Street‘s YouTube channel has:
- Attracted 500,000 subscribers
- Racked up 150 million views
- Featured celebrity cameos from Neil Patrick Harris, Chris Evans, and Will Ferrell
The audio memoir promises to peel back that curtain. According to the official synopsis, listeners will meet:
- A classically trained actor
- A native New Yorker who grew up in Queens
- The “chubby gay kid of two loving, idiosyncratic parents”
“Behind the scenes, Billy has always been equal parts satirist and serious creative thinker,” the synopsis notes. The memoir pays tribute to:
- Family members
- Teachers and mentors
- His all-time favorite entertainers
Creative Hustle and Personal Love Letter
Eichner’s narration weaves together:
- Clips from his most famous sketches
- Stories of making Bros, the 2022 rom-com with an all-LGBTQ+ principal cast
- Memories of 1980s and 1990s New York City
“This book is unlike anything I’ve ever done as a writer or performer,” he said. “What poured out of me over time was a love letter to my parents, to growing up in New York City in the 1980s and 90s and the artists I’ve always loved and have been inspired by.”
He added that the memoir also examines “the hustle required to build and sustain a show-business career while trying to stay true to your creative convictions.”
Why He Chose Audio Over Print
Eichner, 47, explained that skipping print was intentional:
“Being best known for my loud character on Billy on the Street, I wanted the book to be released exclusively in audio so that my fans could get a better sense of my real voice and where I came from.”
In a 2024 interview with News Of Los Angeles, he admitted the street-interview format once terrified him:
“Like most actors, I’m shy. To go out on the street and deal with real New Yorkers, this was not in my wheelhouse in terms of my comfort level.”
Where to Listen
The memoir will be available wherever audiobooks are sold starting May 19, 2026. No print or e-book editions are planned.
