Paul McCartney was given a rare honor by SNL producer Lorne Michaels as he closed out Season 51 of the late-night comedy sketch series.
The former Beatles band member is only one of two musicians whom Michaels has allowed to play out the episode while the cast members and celebrity host say their goodbyes. The rare honor underscores the music icon’s legendary status and longtime connection to the late-night comedy institution.
Paul McCartney Closed Out SNL With a Beloved Solo Track
Paul McCartney appeared as the musical guest during SNL’s Season 51 finale.
The former Beatles singer, songwriter, and bassist performed his 1980 hit “Coming Up” as host Will Ferrell and SNL cast members took the stage to put a period on the series’ newest season. The rare moment placed the music legend front and center during one of the show’s most celebrated traditions.
Deadline reported that McCartney’s surprise third performance came after he debuted his new song, “Days We Left Behind.” For a second performance, the music legend performed 1973’s “Band on the Run.”
Drumming along with McCartney was Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith, who appeared in the episode during Ferrell’s monologue. He played into the longstanding similarities between he and the “Elf” star, while McCartney joked that Ferrell was indeed Smith.
McCartney also appeared in a sketch that featured Ferrell, Marcello Hernández, Mikey Day and Ashley Padilla. He played a mechanic named Nigel, who told Day and Padilla, per Deadline, “Your tipsy-wipsy’s all dangly-doodly, and the spiggly-wiggly’s gone crumpet. The whole car is knackered.”
Paul McCartney Fans Were Thrilled By His Performances
In an Instagram post following Paul McCartney’s SNL performance, fans shared their delight.
One fan wrote, “Every time Paul is invited as the musical guest on SNL, Lorne lets him play out the show. This is a rare honor only reserved for special guests.”
A second Instagram user penned, “My lifelong heartthrob. Always awesome!!!”
“The fact that our guy is still around, still performing, still writing and putting out music. Incredible!” exclaimed a fourth SNL viewer.
“Love Paul McCartney and thank you for so many years of great songs,” declared a fourth follower.
Have Any Other Musicians Has Played Out SNL Other Than Paul McCartney?
In a Reddit post asking, “What musical guests have closed SNL over the credits?” fans shared their recollections of one other major act that shares that honor with Paul McCartney.
U2 performed on SNL in both 2004 and 2009. They added a rare third song to their sets on both occasions.
While promoting their LP “How to Dismantle and Atomic Bomb” in 2004, the band played their 1980 hit, “I Will Follow” during the goodnights. In 2009, U2 performed “Ultraviolet (Light My Way)” on the main stage to close out the episode.
A Redditor recalled, “They start as Luke Wilson says goodnight, launch into “I will Follow,” Beth McCarthy waits as long as humanly possible before the words ‘Executive Producer Lorne Michaels’ appear on the screen and the scroll begins, and they keep playing so long that the credits are long done before NBC FINALLY cuts to black, and as they do, you can hear Bono say ‘one more?'”
SNL is currently on hiatus.
