Paul McCartney returns to SNL as musical guest for the first time since 2012

Paul McCartney back on Studio 8H

Paul McCartney returned to Saturday Night Live as musical guest for the season 51 finale, sharing the stage with host Will Ferrell. According to Pitchfork, this marks his first appearance on the show since 2012, a gap of more than a decade for one of the most iconic figures in pop history.

The appearance landed at the close of SNL's 51st season, a slot that tends to draw some of the biggest names the show can book. McCartney, a former member of The Beatles, has rarely needed the promotional push, which makes the booking feel more like a celebration than a campaign.

What it means

For a show that has leaned heavily on younger acts in recent seasons, having McCartney close things out is a statement. Will Ferrell as host adds a certain looseness to the proceedings, and the combination is the kind of finale pairing SNL leans on when it wants to send a season off on good terms.

No setlist details were confirmed in the sourced report, so we will leave the song-by-song breakdown for when the clips make their rounds. What is confirmed is the occasion itself, and the long wait since his last appearance on the Rockefeller Plaza stage.

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