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What Paul McCartney performed on SNL50
McCartney’s closing musical number was the Abbey Road sequence “Golden Slumbers” into “Carry That Weight” and then “The End.” The three songs appear in that order near the end of the album’s second side, followed by “Her Majesty.” The Beatles’ official album and song pages identify the sequence and place “Carry That Weight” immediately after “Golden Slumbers.”
It is best understood as a medley rather than a complete performance of Abbey Road. The broadcast featured these three connected songs from the album’s climax; the available research does not establish that McCartney performed additional Beatles songs as part of the closing medley.
Why the song order mattered
The choice made the performance feel like a musical ending to an event built around an ending: the 50th-anniversary celebration of Saturday Night Live. “Golden Slumbers” starts the sequence, “Carry That Weight” extends it, and “The End” supplies its final song. That structure gave the special a built-in sense of conclusion without requiring a longer retrospective set.
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This describes the arrangement and placement of the songs, not McCartney’s private reasoning for selecting them. No verified statement in the supplied reporting establishes his personal motive or details of the production decision.
The Abbey Road connection
Abbey Road was first released on September 26, 1969. According to The Beatles’ official catalog, it was the group’s final album to be recorded, although it was not the final Beatles album released: Let It Be came out later.
The album’s closing run is one of its defining features. “Golden Slumbers,” “Carry That Weight,” and “The End” are arranged as a continuous climactic passage rather than three unrelated songs separated by a conventional album break. That made the material especially suitable for a ceremonial television finale.
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If McCartney’s SNL50 performance sends you back to the source, Abbey Road vinyl record is the most direct physical-format option to look for. A The Beatles Abbey Road CD is the practical alternative for listeners who prefer compact discs. Editions, prices, sellers, and availability vary, so the listing should be checked before purchase; no particular pressing should be assumed to be the exact recording used in the broadcast.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWhere the performance appeared in the anniversary special
SNL50: The Anniversary Special was the main live primetime broadcast celebrating the show’s 50th anniversary. Peacock identifies it as Season 50, Episode 13, lists a runtime of 152 minutes, and describes it as a live-from-New-York event. Contemporary Associated Press coverage likewise reported that the special aired live from New York on NBC and streamed on Peacock.
McCartney was not an isolated musical guest placed somewhere in the middle of the program. His appearance was the closing musical number. The broader lineup included Paul Simon, Sabrina Carpenter, The Roots, Brittany Howard, Miley Cyrus, and other performers, making McCartney’s placement the event’s final featured musical moment.
The special capped a weekend of anniversary programming around Saturday Night Live’s 50th year. Peacock’s advance coverage included McCartney among the scheduled participants and described the celebration as culminating in the February 16 live broadcast.
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How to watch or revisit SNL50
The original distribution was on NBC and Peacock. Peacock’s program page is the relevant listing for the full special, but streaming availability can change. The documented NBC/Peacock broadcast does not guarantee that the complete special, or McCartney’s individual performance, will remain available indefinitely in every country or subscription plan.
For the most reliable current information, check the official Peacock listing and local NBC or licensed television-provider listings at the time you plan to watch. A short online clip may not represent the full medley or the complete anniversary special.
The performance in context
SNL is primarily a comedy program, but its anniversary specials are also large-scale reunions and live entertainment events. McCartney’s appearance used a compact piece of Beatles history to bring that format to a formal close. Rather than presenting a broad survey of his solo and Beatles catalog, the finale centered on one recognizable album passage whose own design already moves toward a conclusion.
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That is the clearest significance of the performance: it connected the modern anniversary of Saturday Night Live with the closing sequence of a landmark 1969 Beatles album. The song order—“Golden Slumbers,” “Carry That Weight,” then “The End”—is the essential detail for anyone looking for the set list or trying to locate the recording afterward.
Quick facts
- Program: SNL50: The Anniversary Special
- Date: Sunday, February 16, 2025
- Performer: Paul McCartney
- Role in the show: Closing musical number
- Medley: “Golden Slumbers” → “Carry That Weight” → “The End”
- Source album: Abbey Road
- Original distribution: NBC and Peacock
- Abbey Road release date: September 26, 1969
Frequently Asked Questions
What songs did Paul McCartney perform at the end of SNL50?
He performed the Abbey Road medley “Golden Slumbers,” “Carry That Weight,” and “The End,” in that order.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsWhen did Paul McCartney close the SNL 50th-anniversary special?
The performance aired during SNL50: The Anniversary Special on Sunday, February 16, 2025.
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Where can I watch the SNL50 Paul McCartney performance?
The special originally aired on NBC and streamed on Peacock. Current access depends on the service’s availability, regional rights, and listing status, so check Peacock or a legitimate local provider before watching.
Are these songs all from Abbey Road?
Yes. “Golden Slumbers,” “Carry That Weight,” and “The End” form the closing sequence near the end of Abbey Road. McCartney’s appearance was a medley of those songs, not a complete performance of the album.
The Bottom Line
Paul McCartney’s SNL50 finale was an Abbey Road closing medley: “Golden Slumbers,” “Carry That Weight,” and “The End.” Its exact song order and position as the special’s final musical number made it a natural ceremonial ending to the February 16, 2025 anniversary broadcast.
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