In the 50th Anniversary Special, Paul McCartney brought his iconic presence to Saturday Night Live (SNL), creating yet another memorable moment in the comic sketch show's history. The 82-year-old Beatle concluded the star-studded show with a number of Beatles songs, and his surprise appearance on Sunday, February 16, had the audience on their feet.
Stars like Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, and Bad Bunny made several cameos over the evening, but McCartney's performance was the one that people remembered the most. He sang just songs from one of The Beatles' most well-known albums, Abbey Road, on stage. After a languid performance of "Golden Slumbers," McCartney sang the heartfelt ballad "Carry That Weight."
As McCartney entered "The End," the last song from Abbey Road, the audience exploded. The famous statement, "And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make," was cheered along to by the audience, making it a perfect way to cap both McCartney's performance and the anniversary special.
Given that this was McCartney's seventh performance on the show, his musical history with SNL is well-documented. McCartney has made multiple appearances as a musical guest over the years, notably in 1980, 1993, 2010, and 2012, although he has never hosted. Additionally, he appeared unexpectedly in sketches in 2006, 2013, and 2015. Fans always get a strong sense of nostalgia from McCartney's appearances, which have been a part of SNL for decades.
The celebration was further enhanced by the appearance of numerous former SNL cast members, including as Amy Poehler, Andy Samberg, Eddie Murphy, and Tina Fey, in the 50th Anniversary Special. It was a star-studded event, with McCartney joined by other celebs like Adam Driver, Robert De Niro, and Kim Kardashian.
Along with McCartney's musical performance, the rock star was parodied in previous Saturday Night Live sketches. Over the years, Bill Murray, Dana Carvey, and Alan Cumming all played McCartney in sly impersonations. The evening's high point, however, was McCartney's live performance, which served as a reminder to everyone of why he is still a cherished icon in both music and popular culture.
The SNL 50th Anniversary Special was a tremendous celebration of the show's legacy, and McCartney's performance served as the ultimate send-off, reaffirming his place as one of music's greatest icons.