In this emotionally intimate documentary, Josh Alexander chronicles singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles’ recording of her latest album with her band over 6 days in 2025. This represents the first record Bareilles has made since the COVID-19 pandemic first struck and she, in the ensuing years, dealt with personal hardship and grief. In what becomes a warm, triumphant return to the studio, Bareilles takes the lessons grief has taught her and transfigures them into breathtaking songs. 

Sara Bareilles: Good Grief is an up-close portrait of the musical artist at a very particular juncture in her life, able to embrace experiencing joy and pain openly with her friends and collaborators. The conversations Bareilles and company share during breaks from the studio feel viscerally personal and also offer valuable insights into the state of the music industry. It all makes for a touching journey through one community of musicians’ creative process.—Cara Cusumano
After the Premiere: A performance by Sara Bareilles.