"You Are So Beautiful" is a song written by Billy Preston and Bruce Fisher, and Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys as an uncredited writer, having contributed to the song's genesis, but his official credit was omitted. It was first recorded by Preston and made popular by Joe Cocker. Preston who grew up playing the organ in church, originally wrote the lyrics about God.

Preston's original version first appeared on his 1974 album The Kids & Me and as the B-side on the 45rpm pressing of his pop hit, "Struttin'". Cocker's producer, Jim Price, created a slowed-down arrangement for Cocker's version, which first appeared on the album, I Can Stand a Little Rain (released later in 1974). In 1975, the Joe Cocker version was released as a single and peaked number five on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and number twelve on the Easy Listening chart. The Cocker version helped the album become a successful and was his biggest hit until his duet with Jennifer Warnes, "Up Where We Belong", which reached #1 in 1982.

Though not officially credited as the song's writer, Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys and Preston spontaneously collaborated on the words and music to the song at a party. Wilson never sought to reclaim his share of the song's authorship. The song's tone has been related to the style of his solo material.

Without instrumental accompaniment, Wilson sang "You Are So Beautiful" as an encore at Beach Boys shows intermittently from 1975 until his death in 1983. A live rendition, circa 1978, and an edited 1983 live rendition both appear in the 1985 film The Beach Boys: An American Band. A live rendition was released on the group's live album Good Timin': Live at Knebworth England 1980 in 2002.

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