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Discover the new documentary that 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.
DEADLINE | December 12, 2025
John Lennon called keyboardist Billy Preston "the fifth Beatle." But his talents couldn't help him outrun his demons, as told in a new documentary, "Billy Preston: That's the Way God Planned It."
Emmy-Award winning director Paris Barclay joins Morning Joe to discuss the new documentary 'Billy Preston: That's the Way God Planned It'.
The Beatles, the Stones and Clapton shared the stage with him. He made solo hits, too. A documentary by Paris Barclay explores his success and his difficult life.
Featuring never-before-seen archival footage, studio outtakes, and rare photos, Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It is 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 perhaps the most unsung musical hero of his time. Born in Houston, Texas, in 1946, he arrived in Los Angeles with his family three years later. At just 5 years old, he was backing gospel legend Mahalia Jackson. By age 10, he was appearing with Ray Charles on film, and by age 15, he was touring with Little Richard in Hamburg, Germany, where he met Richard’s opening act — The Beatles. He would later perform and record with the biggest names in music, including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Barbra Streisand, Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and countless others. He generated his own unforgettable No. 1 hits, including “Outa-Space,” “Will It Go Round in Circles,” “Nothing from Nothing,” and “You Are So Beautiful” — and his first hit single in 1969, on The Beatles’ Apple Records, “That’s The Way God Planned It,” produced by his lifelong friend, George Harrison.
But Billy had quietly held secrets about his sexuality and early sexual abuse, known to very few in his life, which tormented him his entire life, affecting not only his well-being and relationships but also influencing his career choices.
It is the interweaving of these complicated aspects of this wonderful musician’s life with his extraordinary musical career that Emmy-winning director Paris Barclay has so thoughtfully crafted in Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It.