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Billy Preston: That's The Way God Planned It

Play trailer Poster for Billy Preston: That's The Way God Planned It Now Playing 1h 45m Documentary LGBTQ+ Music Play Trailer Watchlist
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Billy Preston was 5 years old when he backed gospel legend Mahalia Jackson. Over the following six-decade career, Billy contributed his signature sound to the greatest artists of his time, including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Barbra Streisand, Sly Stone, Ray Charles, Rufus, Eric Clapton, and others, while establishing himself as a GRAMMY-winning solo artist. Despite his success, Billy struggled to reconcile his deep relationship with the Black church with his sexuality, setting off a lifelong quest to find love and acceptance.
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Critics Reviews

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Glenn Kenny New York Times 1d
As tough a life as Preston had, the music that buoys this chronicle is a constant source of joy. Go to Full Review Owen Gleiberman Variety 11/22/2024
Why didn’t Billy Preston become a bigger star? Who was he, exactly, as an artist? I went into the documentary fuzzy about all those things and came out feeling like I finally knew him. Go to Full Review Steve Erickson Gay City News 1d
The ways in which Preston’s life evades that “Behind The Music” narrative are the most interesting aspects of “Billy Preston: That’s The Way God Planned It.” Go to Full Review Avi Offer NYC Movie Guru 2d
An insightful, heartfelt, warts-and-all biographical documentary. Go to Full Review Read all reviews
Billy Preston: That's The Way God Planned It

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Cast & Crew

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Paris Barclay

Director

Billy Preston

Self

Eric Clapton

Self

Merry Clayton

Self

Ringo Starr

Self

Olivia Harrison

Self

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Billy Preston: That's The Way God Planned It

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Movie Info

Synopsis Billy Preston was 5 years old when he backed gospel legend Mahalia Jackson. Over the following six-decade career, Billy contributed his signature sound to the greatest artists of his time, including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Barbra Streisand, Sly Stone, Ray Charles, Rufus, Eric Clapton, and others, while establishing himself as a GRAMMY-winning solo artist. Despite his success, Billy struggled to reconcile his deep relationship with the Black church with his sexuality, setting off a lifelong quest to find love and acceptance.
Director
Paris Barclay
Producer
Stephanie Allain, Jeanne Elfant Festa, Nigel Sinclair, Cheo Hodari Coker
Screenwriter
Paris Barclay, Cheo Hodari Coker
Distributor
Abramorama
Production Co
White Horse Pictures, Homegrown Pictures
Genre
Documentary, LGBTQ+, Music
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 20, 2026, Limited
Runtime
1h 45m