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Paul McCartney Reveals Taylor Swift's Request at Wedding
Confirmed
In Short: Paul McCartney revealed on Friday's episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live that Taylor Swift asked him to perform 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' at her wedding to Travis Kelce.
McCartney shared the story of how Swift requested him to sing the 1964 Beatles classic, saying, 'She asked me to do it.
During the interview, McCartney also mentioned that he had hoped Swift would join him on stage, saying, 'You should sing along, and you should sing it to your man, Travis!
McCartney, who is 84, also discussed his recent performances and upcoming projects, including a special edition of 'The Boys of Dungeon Lane' and a duet with Ringo Starr.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce exchanged vows on July 3, with the reception stretching into the early morning hours of the following day.
McCartney's appearance at Swift's wedding was previously reported, but he confirmed the details during his interview with Jimmy Kimmel.
McCartney also mentioned that he had met Swift and other pop stars at parties hosted by his wife Nancy Shevell and daughter Stella McCartney.
Swift's close friend Dakota Johnson had previously declined to comment on whether photos would be released from the wedding.
McCartney's performance at Swift's wedding was a surprise to many, and his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live provided more insight into the event.
The wedding was a private affair, with Swift's mother inviting guests into the reception room where McCartney performed.
McCartney's performance at Swift's wedding was a highlight of the event, with guests praising the intimate and magical atmosphere.
McCartney's comments on Jimmy Kimmel Live provided a behind-the-scenes look at the wedding and his role in the celebration.
Background
Paul McCartney confirmed on Jimmy Kimmel Live that Taylor Swift asked him to perform 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' at her wedding.
What's confirmed
- Paul McCartney, who performed “I Want to Hold Your Hand” at Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding, has shared some inside details three months after the event — like how he ended up onstage.
- A post shared by Jimmy Kimmel Live (@jimmykimmellive) “Sometimes you didn’t get the email, I’m sure you know that, but sometimes I ring them up and say, ‘Yeah,’ I’ve done that a couple times,” Paul said of frequent performance requests.
- Paul performed The Beatles ‘ classic song “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” While appearing on the Friday (October 2) episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Paul shared how he ended up performing at the wedding.
- “[Taylor] asked me to do it.” He went on to share that Taylor, 36, specifically wanted him to perform “I Want to Hold Your Hand” at her wedding.
- “‘And you should sing it to your man, Travis!’” Here’s everything else we know so far about Taylor and Travis ‘ wedding!
- McCartney opened up about performing at Swift and Kelce’s star-studded Madison Square Garden wedding, during an Oct. 2 appearance on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ Paul McCartney is opening up about his decision to perform The Beatles ‘ hit song “I Want To Hold Your Hand” at Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce ’s wedding.
- “I said, you should sing along, and you should sing it to your man,” McCartney said as the audience laughed.
What's still developing
- “She’s surprising, isn’t she?” said BBC Radio 1’s Greg James, who was interviewing Johnson (and who was also a guest at the wedding, after Swift invited him during her last interview with him).
- The music legend shared his perspective from Swift and Travis Kelce's summer event at Madison Square Garden.
- “Did you know you were gonna sing going in?” Kimmel asked, getting the scoop for the general public, whose curiosity about the wedding still lingers.
- She asked me to do it,” McCartney said, verifying that the song he sang was the 1964 Beatles classic “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” “That was her request?
- Swift’s close friend (and “Patient Zero” music video co-star) Dakota Johnson recently gave a simple answer — “no” — when asked whether she thought any photos would ever come out from the day.
- While it is unclear if Swift decided to join McCartney for the duet, Travis, 36, showed off his own singing voice that evening.
- In 2024, McCartney was spotted at one of Swift’s Eras Tour shows at Wembley Stadium, days after celebrating his 82nd birthday.
- Stevie Nicks, a longtime mentor to Swift, also performed at the wedding, per the source.
- “She asked me to do it,” McCartney told Kimmel, adding that Swift herself requested “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” which he hadn’t played live since performing it with the Beatles back in 1964.
- Elsewhere during the interview, McCartney talked about his upcoming special edition of The Boys of Dungeon Lane, duetting with Ringo Starr for the first time, his recent Wings documentary Man on the Run, and the time Larry David refused to sing along to “Hey Jude” at a McCartney concert. (“You think I’m gonna ‘Na na na’. What kind of person do you think I am,” David told Kimmel in a June 2026 interview.
- “I talked to him about it afterward. I said, ‘How come Larry?’ He said, ‘I didn’t want to do it.’ So he didn’t do it,” McCartney said of the incident.
- Guests have been pretty tight-lipped about the ceremony in the months since, but McCartney did reveal why he sang at the wedding.