Sarah Sherman got the ultimate seal of approval from Paul McCartney — and it came in the form of a mullet inspection.
The Saturday Night Live star recently recalled a memorable backstage interaction with the music legend after he appeared as the musical guest during the Season 51 finale, hosted by Will Ferrell.
Speaking with People at the 5th Annual Las Culturistas Culture Awards in Los Angeles on May 30, Sherman explained that the encounter stemmed from a joke she’d previously made comparing her hairstyle to McCartney’s famous Wings-era mullet.
“So, basically I was doing a bit talking about how I have his mullet from his Wings era,” Sherman said. “And so he came up to me after the show and he pulled up my mullet and he was like, ‘Is it real or is it a wig?’ “
“And I said, ‘It’s real, Paul,’ ” she recalled.
That kicked off a fan-girl moment Sherman wasn’t about to waste.
“And then, I was like, ‘Paul McCartney, I love you, you’re amazing. Like, McCartney II is my favorite album ever, and ‘Temporary Secretary’ is my favorite song.’ And then I was like, ‘I’m sorry I’m complimenting you so much.’ And he said, ‘I love adulation. Adulate me. Adulate me.’ “
“Yeah, it was awesome. It was awesome,” she added.
Sherman previously shared another version of the story during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, revealing that McCartney approached her during the show’s traditional goodnights.
“And so, he came up to me at the goodnights, like when we’re all bowing or whatever,” she said. “He said, ‘Sarah,’ and he knew my name, brag. He pulled on my mullet tails.”
Kimmel responded, “I think it’s very rare that somebody gets their mullet pulled by a Beatle.”
“And I liked it!” Sherman shot back.
When Kimmel joked, “As long as he doesn’t pull too hard, why not?” Sherman doubled down on her admiration for the former Beatle.
“Honey, he can do whatever he wants to me,” she said.
The comedian has been vocal about her love of McCartney’s work, recently naming McCartney II as her favorite album during a People Picks segment. Released in 1980, the experimental solo record has gone on to become a cult favorite among fans.
Sherman joined SNL as a featured player in 2021 before being promoted to the repertory cast in 2023. In addition to her work on the long-running sketch series, she’s appeared in You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah and Roommates.
Most recently, Sherman headlined her HBO Max comedy special, Sarah Squirm: Live + in the Flesh, which is currently streaming.