Paul McCartney performs Beatles' 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' first time since 1964 at Swift-Kelce wedding
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: Singer Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce celebrated their wedding with a star-studded reception at Madison Square Garden on Friday, July 3, where music legend Paul McCartney delivered a special performance.
McCartney performed the Beatles' classic 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' for the first time since 1964, while singer-songwriter Stevie Nicks also took the stage during the celebration. The reception, officiated by comedian and actor Adam Sandler, brought together family, friends and celebrity guests for an unforgettable evening.
Paul McCartney performs Beatles' 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' at Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding
McCartney performed the Beatles' No. 1 hit 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' for the first time since 1964 during Swift and Kelce's wedding reception, a source confirmed exclusively to PEOPLE. According to the source, the reception began after the ceremony when Swift's mother, Andrea, invited guests into a reception room where a stage had been set up.
The source also said that Nicks, a longtime friend and mentor to Swift, performed during the reception. McCartney and Swift have long expressed mutual admiration for one another, appearing together on the cover of Rolling Stone in 2020.
More recently, on June 2, Swift reshared an Instagram post promoting his new album, 'The Boys of Dungeon Lane.' In her post, she described him as an "eternally exceptional artist" and said she was "never not inspired" by him.
Her tribute came shortly after McCartney was asked during an interview with BBC Sounds whether he had any advice for Swift on handling the same level of worldwide fame that he experienced with the Beatles.
"You do see the parallel, you know the fame and the amount of fame," McCartney said, adding, "The worldwide fame that Taylor Swift has and that we had, but I don't think she needs any advice to tell you the truth," he continued with a laugh.
He added that if Swift ever asked him for advice, he would "definitely" give it.
Paul McCartney praises Taylor Swift as she celebrates marriage to Travis Kelce
During the same BBC Sounds interview, McCartney described himself as "the older brother to that generation, or more like the grandad, actually." He said he had met Swift, along with Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter, at parties hosted by his wife, Nancy Shevell, and daughter, Stella McCartney.
"They're really cool people, they're very good," he said of the singers, adding, "I like their voices. If they need any advice, yeah, I would be happy to give it, but I don't think they do."
He also attended one of Swift's 'Eras Tour' concerts at Wembley Stadium in London in June 2024, just days after celebrating his 82nd birthday. He was greeted by fans and received several friendship bracelets, a tradition associated with the tour.
Swift later returned the gesture by attending McCartney's intimate concert at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles on March 28.
The couple's marriage came nearly a year after they announced their engagement on Instagram on August 26, 2025, with the caption, "Your gym teacher and your English teacher are getting married."
The engagement photos showed Kelce proposing on one knee before the couple embraced. Swift also displayed her custom engagement ring, designed by Kelce alongside Kindred Lubeck of Artifex Fine Jewelry. The ring features an old mine brilliant-cut diamond set on a gold band.
