Paul McCartney Aptly Closes Out SNL 50th Anniversary Special with ‘The End’ and Other Beatles Hits

Paul McCartney Aptly Closes Out SNL 50th Anniversary Special with 'The End' and Other Beatles Hits

The Beatle has appeared on ‘Saturday Night Live’ eight times but has never hosted an episode of the comedy sketch series

paul mccartney
Paul McCartney. Photo: NBC

Paul McCartney is back at Studio 8H.

The Beatles member made an appearance at the end of the SNL 50: The Anniversary Special on Sunday, Feb. 16. McCartney, 82, played a surprise show at the Bowery Ballroom days before in lower Manhattan. On Sunday, he closed out the star-studded episode with Beatles classics.

McCartney performed songs exclusively from Abbey Road. He sang a dreamy version of “Golden Slumbers” before transitioning to the ballad “Carry That Weight.”

The crowd got on their feet when McCartney aptly switched to “The End” to wrap up his set, clapping along to the final song of the album, which was composed by McCartney.

“And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make,” McCartney crooned.

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Paul McCartney in 2025.NBC

McCartney previously appeared on Saturday Night Live eight times. Though he has never hosted, the Beatle was a musical guest in 1980, 1993, 2010 and 2012. He also made cameos in 2006, 2013 and 2015. McCartney also was part of the sketch show’s 40th anniversary special 10 years ago.

Meanwhile, Bill MurrayDana Carvey and Alan Cumming portrayed McCartney in various sketches through the years. Even the rock legend isn’t safe from a cheeky impersonation.

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE -- Episode 13-- Pictured: (l-r) Chris Farley, Paul McCartney during 'The Chris Farley Show' skit on February 13, 1983
Chris Farley and Paul McCartney in 1983.Al Levine/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Steve MartinTom HanksScarlett JohanssonAyo Edebiri and Bad Bunny were part of the star-studded lineup on Feb. 16. Other celebrities taking part in the 50th anniversary special included Adam DriverDave ChappelleJohn MulaneyKim KardashianMartin ShortMiley CyrusPaul SimonPedro PascalPeyton ManningQuinta BrunsonRobert De NiroSabrina Carpenter and Woody Harrelson.

The anniversary special also featured plenty of past cast members, including Amy PoehlerAndy SambergChevy ChaseChris RockEddie MurphyFred ArmisenGarrett MorrisJane CurtinJason SudeikisJimmy FallonKate McKinnonKenan ThompsonKristen WiigLaraine NewmanMaya RudolphMolly ShannonPete DavidsonSeth MeyersTina FeyTracy MorganWill Ferrell and Will Forte.

SNL50: The Anniversary Special aired on Sunday, Feb. 16 on NBC and will be available to stream on Peacock.

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