Article Contributed by Big Hassle Media
Published on 2026-04-23
Subtext, in association with Rolling Stone Films, proudly announces the highly anticipated domestic theatrical release of Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul on Wednesday, June 17, including one-week engagements in Los Angeles and New York as well as one-night exclusive screenings across the country. Directed by GRAMMY® and Golden Globe Award-winning filmmaker James Keach, the full-length feature documentary explores the life and work of Gregg Allman, one of the most distinctive voices in American music and, as co-founder and frontman of the Allman Brothers Band, a groundbreaking architect of Southern rock.
Two premiere events will take place ahead of the film’s theatrical release. The first, on June 9 at New York City’s Gramercy Theatre, will feature a special acoustic performance by Devon Allman and Duane Betts. The second will be held on June 11 at the Grand Opera House in Macon, GA, and will include a special appearance by Chuck Leavell. Both events will include a screening of the film along with a Q&A with members of the filmmaking team.
WATCH GREGG ALLMAN: THE MUSIC OF MY SOUL FILM TEASER
Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul offers a profound portrait of Gregg Allman, a luminous figure whose life and songs mirror his struggles and salvation. This visionary music documentary traces Allman’s turbulent, transcendent journey through profound personal tragedy and hard-won redemption – from a childhood ruptured by his father’s murder to the soulful emergence that birthed Southern rock and permanently reshaped American music. Told through archival recordings, candid interviews, and electric live performances, the film weaves an intimate portrait of Allman, honestly reflecting on the death of his brother and bandmate Duane, his battles with addiction, and the personal demons that shaped both his life and his blues-driven music. The documentary is anchored by rarely seen concert footage that captures the Allman Brothers Band at their creative peak, offering audiences an immersive, front-row view of one of rock ‘n’ roll’s most powerful live outfits.
Beyond the music, Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul explores what Gregg Allman and the Allman Brothers Band came to represent in American culture – an ethos rooted in artistic freedom, collaboration, and defiance of convention. It highlights how Gregg and the band rejected the racial divisions that defined much of the American South, grounding their sound in deep respect for Black musical traditions and collaboration with Black musicians at a time when integrated rock groups were rare. The documentary also examines Allman’s complicated relationship with fame, including his highly publicized marriage to Cher, and how life in the public eye collided with his restless pursuit of authenticity. Together, Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul affirms Gregg Allman not just as one of rock ‘n’ roll’s greatest and most influential artists, but as a lasting cultural force whose influence extended far beyond the stage.
Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul marks the inaugural release from Subtext, the U.S. independent film production and distribution company started in January 2026 by industry veterans Danielle DiGiacomo, Brian Levy, and Teddy Liouliakis with a focus on author-driven, distinctive cinema. The film represents the launch of Subtext’s broader vision to build a curated slate of music-driven films, combining storytelling, distribution, and cultural partnerships to maximize both reach and revenue. Rolling Stone Films will support Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul through an array of editorial, digital, and cultural activations.
Keach, whose previous credits include 2005’s Academy Award-winning Walk The Line and such acclaimed documentaries as 2014’s Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me, 2019’s David Crosby: Remember My Name, and the GRAMMY® Award-winning Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice, directed and produced Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul alongside producer and longtime Gregg Allman manager Michael Lehman and Alex Komisaruk of PCH Films, as well as Emmy-, Golden Globe-, and GRAMMY® Award-winning executive producers Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank (Music by John Williams, Faye, Laurel Canyon) of Amblin Documentaries, Douglas Banker of Five All in the Fifth, Michael Hughes and Greg C. Lake of DLP Media Group, Robert Stein, Alexandra Dale of Rolling Stone Films, and Levy and Liouliakis of Subtext.
“Gregg’s story totally resonated with me,” says James Keach, “especially his relationship with his brother, Duane. I have a very close relationship with my brother, Stacy. We worked together for years on a lot of great projects – The Long Riders was formative for us as well as for the Carradine and Quaid brothers – and the thought of losing my brother at such a young age really got me.
“Not everyone works this way, but I believe that understanding trauma from the formative years of a person’s life is central when telling their story in a documentary. A lot of incredible artists have these shattering experiences in their past that inform every aspect of their lives and talent. Gregg had those demons inside his amazingly creative brain. He dove deep into his addiction when Duane died, but later in life, when he was sober, he faced his own mortality with dignity and acceptance. It’s personally important to me to carry Gregg’s message of trying to change the trajectory of people consumed by addiction. You can hear the ache in his voice in his brilliant music.”
“I was Gregg’s friend,” says Michael Lehman. “This movie is personal to me because I want the world to know the Gregg behind the music.
“Gregg was impacted by, among other things, his profoundly close relationship and the tragic loss of his brother Duane. His music reflects the joy and the pain of his life experiences. I chose James Keach to direct this film because James is both an incredibly talented director and has a close relationship with his own brother, Stacy. I knew from the start that he would bring to life Gregg’s story, including the relationship with Duane and with his band, The Allman Brothers Band, and that James would be able to create both an enjoyable and deeply memorable film.”
“Gregg Allman’s music is woven into the fabric of American culture, and this film captures both the artistry and the humanity behind the legend,” said Brian Levy of Subtext. “We’re proud to bring the film to American audiences, offering devoted fans rare insight and archival material while introducing Gregg’s legacy to a new generation.”
