The first U.S. trailer has been released for Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It, a feature-length documentary spotlighting the life and legacy of the groundbreaking musician often referred to as “the fifth Beatle.” The film will receive a stateside release beginning February 20 through Abramorama.
The documentary traces the extraordinary career of Billy Preston, a Grammy-winning keyboardist, singer, and songwriter whose influence stretched across gospel, rock, soul, and funk. A child prodigy who began performing professionally at a young age, Preston went on to collaborate with an unmatched list of music legends, including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Little Richard, Barbra Streisand, and Eric Clapton.
Beyond his work as a sought-after collaborator, Preston achieved major solo success. His chart-topping hits include Outa-Space, Will It Go Round in Circles, Nothing from Nothing, and You Are So Beautiful. His breakthrough single That’s the Way God Planned It, released in 1969 on The Beatles’ Apple Records, was produced by his close friend George Harrison. Years after his death in 2006, Preston’s impact was formally recognized when he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2021.
While celebrating Preston’s musical genius, the film also confronts the more difficult chapters of his life. Despite widespread admiration, Preston faced significant personal struggles, including childhood trauma, addiction, legal troubles, financial hardship, and the pressures of navigating his sexuality within environments that offered little acceptance. The documentary positions these challenges as inseparable from his artistry, offering a fuller portrait of a man whose contributions were often undervalued during his lifetime.
The film is directed by multi-Emmy Award winner Paris Barclay, who co-wrote the documentary with Cheo Hodari Coker. Through a blend of electrifying concert footage and intimate interviews, the documentary brings Preston’s story into sharp focus. Featured voices include Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Merry Clayton, Billy Porter, and other collaborators and contemporaries who reflect on his influence and brilliance.
The producing team includes Stephanie Allain, Jeanne Elfant Festa, and Nigel Sinclair, with Coker also serving as a co-producer. Executive producers include Olivia Harrison, Jonathan Clyde, Daniel Shaw, G. Marq Roswell, and White Horse Pictures’ Nicholas Ferrall and Cassidy Hartmann. The film’s score is composed by Grammy winners Robert Glasper and Derrick Hodge, underscoring Preston’s musical legacy with a modern sensibility.
Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It features rarely seen archival material, including performances alongside The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, as well as newly unearthed footage connected to the band’s later years. Together, these elements frame Preston not just as a collaborator to icons, but as a singular artist whose story deserved far greater recognition.
With its U.S. release approaching, the documentary aims to reintroduce Billy Preston to audiences as both a towering musical force and a deeply human figure—one whose life, struggles, and sound left an indelible mark on 20th-century music.