Paul McCartney has revealed how he ended up performing at Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding, confirming that Swift herself asked him to take the stage during the couple’s July 3 celebration at Madison Square Garden in New York.
McCartney discussed the wedding appearance during an Oct. 2 episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” filmed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. The former Beatle told host Jimmy Kimmel that Swift personally requested the performance and selected the song he would sing.
The song was The Beatles’ “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” the 1964 classic that became the group’s first No. 1 single in the United States. McCartney had not performed the song publicly in decades, making the wedding appearance a rare return to one of The Beatles’ early hits.
McCartney said Swift was onstage with him during the performance and that he encouraged her to sing along. He recalled telling her that she should sing the song to her husband, Kelce, during the celebration.
The performance had previously been reported shortly after the wedding, but McCartney had not publicly explained how the booking came together. His appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” provided the first detailed account from the musician himself about why he performed and how Swift was involved.
Swift and Kelce married at Madison Square Garden on July 3 in a private celebration attended by more than 1,000 guests. The event brought together major figures from music, sports and entertainment, with Stevie Nicks also performing during the reception.
Kelce also took the stage during the wedding festivities. His brother Jason Kelce later discussed his singing during a July appearance on the Ross Tucker Football Podcast, saying that the Kansas City Chiefs tight end could carry a tune despite being surrounded by more experienced singers.
McCartney and Swift have maintained a public friendship for several years. Swift attended McCartney’s intimate concert at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles earlier in 2026, while McCartney previously attended one of Swift’s Eras Tour shows at Wembley Stadium in London.
McCartney also discussed Swift during a May appearance on BBC Radio 2, comparing the worldwide attention surrounding her career with the level of fame The Beatles experienced. He said he did not believe Swift needed advice but would be willing to offer it if she ever asked.
The wedding performance added another connection between two generations of major pop music figures, with McCartney returning to a Beatles song that had been absent from his live repertoire for more than six decades specifically at Swift’s request.
