News - 24 February 2026
Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It is now playing in cinemas across North America.
Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It, a new documentary celebrating the life and legacy of the GRAMMY-winning musician, is now playing in cinemas across North America.
Directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Paris Barclay, the film is described as “an exhilarating documentary about the legendary GRAMMY-winning musician whose signature sound shaped the work of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Ray Charles, Sly Stone, Aretha Franklin, and countless others.”
Billy Preston was just 15 years old when he toured with Little Richard in Hamburg, where he met The Beatles. He would later play and record with the band during the Let It Be era, becoming the only musician to receive an on-label credit on a Beatles single. In 1969, Preston released That’s The Way God Planned It on Apple Records, produced by his lifelong friend George Harrison.

Featuring never-before-seen archival footage, studio outtakes and rare photographs, the documentary traces Preston’s extraordinary six-decade career, from backing gospel legend Mahalia Jackson at the age of five to establishing himself as a GRAMMY-winning solo artist with No. 1 hits including Outa-Space, Will It Go Round in Circles, Nothing from Nothingand You Are So Beautiful. Alongside his musical achievements, the film also explores Preston’s personal struggles and his lifelong search for love and acceptance.
Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It is produced by White Horse Pictures and Homegrown Pictures, with executive producers including Olivia Harrison.
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