Billy Preston Documentary, ‘That’s the Way God Planned It,’ Coming

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A feature-length documentary, Billy Preston: That’s The Way God Planned It, spotlighting the late Grammy-winning keyboardist and vocalist who worked with the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and others, will make its North American premiere on Feb. 20, 2026, at the Film Forum in New York City. Directed by multi-Emmy winner Paris Barclay (Dahmer, In Treatment, Glee), the film is presented by Abramorama, White Horse Pictures and Homegrown Pictures. Watch the official trailer and a clip from his prominent career below.

The documentary, according to a press release, “follows the extraordinary life and six-decade career of Grammy-winning keyboardist Billy Preston, whose signature sound shaped the work of the Beatles, Ray Charles, Mahalia Jackson, Aretha Franklin, the Rolling Stones, Barbra Streisand, Sly Stone, Eric Clapton and countless others. Preston generated his own No. 1 hits, including ‘Outa-Space,’ ‘Will It Go Round in Circles,’ ‘Nothing from Nothing’ and ‘You Are So Beautiful.’ Preston’s first hit single, ‘That’s The Way God Planned It’—recorded in 1969 for the Beatles’ Apple Records—was produced by his lifelong friend, George Harrison. Fifteen years after his death in 2006, Billy Preston was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2021.”

A synopsis of the film was provided along with the announcement: “A 16-year-old Billy Preston met the not-yet-famous Beatles when he played for Little Richard during their Hamburg tour in 1962. He befriended the young band by sneaking them food and drinks. This led to Billy playing on the Beatles’ Let It Be and Abbey Road albums as a credited musician and performing with them in their last live performance as a group—the famous Rooftop concert. The Grammy Award-winning artist enjoyed an illustrious solo career including several number one solo hits, and worked with the Rolling Stones, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nat King Cole, Sly Stone, Barbra Streisand and Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin and Mahalia Jackson just to name a few.

“We are more than thrilled that the soul of Billy Preston will be reborn thanks to our friends at Abramorama, and in the theater, where everyone can experience it,” said director Paris Barclay. “His story has reverberated with festival audiences, in part because we illuminate Preston’s brilliance, and also because it has so much to say about the world we live in today.”

Billy Preston: That’s The Way God Planned It “is a production of Peabody, Emmy and Grammy award-winning White Horse Pictures and Emmy-nominated Homegrown Pictures,” the announcement continues. “The film is produced by Homegrown’s Stephanie Allain, White Horse’s Jeanne Elfant Festa and Nigel Sinclair, and co-written and produced by Cheo Hodari Coker. The film was edited by Scott D. Hanson and the score was composed by multi-Grammy winner Robert Glasper and Derrick Hodge. Executive producers are Paris Barclay, Daniel Shaw, G. Marq Roswell, Olivia Harrison, Jonathan Clyde and White Horse Pictures’ Nicholas Ferrall.

“Despite his preternatural talent which earned him a place on stage beside the biggest names in 20th century musical history, Billy had a challenging personal story. Only later in life did he come to terms with his truth and find his peace. The film explores Preston’s towering musical accomplishments, matched by his triumphant personal journey to self-love and acceptance.”

The documentary made its world premiere at SXSW and has screened at several festivals.

Watch the trailer

Preston was just 59 years old when he died on June 6, 2006. Many of his recordings are available in the U.S. here, in Canada here and in the U.K. here.