Directed and produced by Beth McCarthy-Miller, the concert was held and filmed on July 27, 2003 at Hutchinson Field in the south-side of Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois; over 50,000 people attended. The concert itself differed from that of the Up! Tour (2003–04), featuring a different stage, setlist and production. Behind-the-scenes footage of the singer visiting local landmarks and events was filmed the same week. The concert film premiered on the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) on August 19, 2003. The special was watched by over 8.87 million viewers, becoming the second-most-viewed concert film on television, behind Celine Dion's A New Day... Live in Las Vegas (2003).

Billy Joel’s first concert to air on a broadcast network. The concert special was shot live in March 2024 at Joel’s record-breaking 100th consecutive performance of his residency at Madison Square Garden. The legendary Piano Man celebrates this historic milestone after having sold out the World’s Most Famous Arena every show of his franchise run for ten years, from January 2014 through his final residency show in July 2024.