Paul McCartney Reveals He Sang ‘Let It Be’ for Jimmy Buffett in the ‘Last Week of His Life’

“He still had that twinkle in his eye,” The Beatles singer said of Buffett at Keep the Party Going: A Tribute to Jimmy Buffett at the Hollywood Bowl on April 11

Paul McCartney; Jimmy Buffett. PHOTO: PIERRE SUU/GETTY IMAGES; JOHN SHEARER/WIREIMAGE

Paul McCartney is sharing a touching insight into the final weeks of his friend Jimmy Buffett’s life.

Speaking at a tribute concert to honor the late folk rock artist, who died at age 76 last September, at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on April 11, McCartney, 81, recalled how he was invited to sing for Buffett at his home by his wife Jane Slagsvol.

“Just in the last week of his life, I was invited up to his house by Janie,” McCartney said on stage at Keep the Party Going: A Tribute to Jimmy Buffett ahead of his performance. “And I was invited up there to sing a couple of songs for Jimmy, and he was in a pretty bad way, but he still had that twinkle in his eye. So I thought I’ll sing one of those songs that I sang to him tonight.”

McCartney then took to the piano to perform “Let It Be” with little accompaniment for the iconic musician.

The Beatles bassist/singer also shared a sweet anecdote about Buffett, whom he called “one great man,” and a vacation the two took together.

Jimmy Buffett performing in New Orleans in May 2022.TIM MOSENFELDER/WIREIMAGE

“He was generous. He was funny. He’d done just about everything in his life,” said McCartney. “And I say he was so generous. I was on holiday with him and I forgot to bring my guitar. So he had his own guitar strung left-handed for me … And then the next time I saw him, he’d had one custom made left-handed for me. So I love Jimmy.”

Along with McCartney, others honoring Buffett and celebrating his life and musical legacy at the one-night only show included the Eagles, Jon Bon Jovi, Sheryl Crow and Snoop Dogg.

Crow, 62, recalled how she was hired by Buffett as a backup singer before she got famous — and she made quite the arrival for their first performance together.

“I was hired by Jimmy Buffett …I was absolutely a nobody. And I got to sing backup on ‘Off to See the Lizard’ with Timothy B. Schmidt,” explained Crow. “But I have to preface the story by saying I came from St. Louis. I flew to Miami. I got on a small commuter jet. We had a bomb scare. They flew us in a hundred yards above the water. They foam landed us, and then the FBI showed up. And then forevermore, Jimmy would say, ‘This girl knows how to show up to a party.’ “

She concluded, “I will tell you, he is for me the most beautiful illustration of what it means to be alive and awake and absolutely present in every moment.”

From Left: Jimmy Buffett, Paul McCartney, Sheryl Crow and Jon Bon Jovi.STEVE GRANITZ/WIREIMAGE; FRED DUVAL/FILMMAGIC; STEVE GRANITZ/FILMMAGIC; KEVIN MAZUR/GETTY

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Meanwhile, Dolly Parton appeared at the tribute concert in a pre-taped message as she shared her own words of kindness for the “Margaritaville” singer.

“Jimmy Buffet was a dear, dear friend of mine,” began Parton, 78. “I know he is looking down thinking, ‘What are you people doing? Did y’all have a margarita?’ And I’m sure we did. Most of us right? Anyway, I just wanted to say that I love Jimmy like all of you do. What a great human being he was. What a great talent he was. What a sweet, sweet soul.”

The late singer’s longtime touring band The Coral Reefer Band also played at the event and were introduced to the stage one by one by McCartney after his own performance.

Dolly Parton in Nashville in November 2023.JASON KEMPIN/GETTY

Following Buffett’s death, McCartney — who played bass on “My Gummie Just Kicked In” on Buffett’s final album, Equal Strain on All Parts — paid tribute to the Grammy-nominated star on social media.

“It seems that so many wonderful people are leaving this world, and now Jimmy Buffett is one of them. I’ve known Jimmy for some time and found him to be one of the kindest and most generous people,” wrote McCartney on X (formerly known as Twitter).

“He had a most amazing lust for life and a beautiful sense of humour. When we swapped tales about the past his were so exotic and lush and involved sailing trips and surfing and so many exciting stories that it was hard for me to keep up with him,” he continued, adding, “So many of us will miss Jimmy and his tremendous personality. His love for us all, and for mankind as a whole.”

McCartney concluded his post, which featured a photo of the duo laughing and holding hands, “So long, Jim. You are a very special man and friend and it was a great privilege to get to know you and love you. Bubbles up, my friend. Love, Paul.”

Buffett died from Merkel cell carcinoma a rare and aggressive skin cancer, just over eight months ago.

His death was announced in a statement posted on his social media and website.

“Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1st surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs,” the statement — which was accompanied by a touching photograph of Buffett sitting on a boat — read. “He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many.”