Rapper Nelly has shared a unique anecdote about a surprise performance during Taylor Swift's 2011 Speak Now World Tour, where he was paid $50,000 in cash, delivered in a McDonald's bag. Nelly recounted the experience in a recent interview on The Breakfast Club, explaining that Swift, then 36, contacted him unexpectedly to request his participation.
Swift and her friends had choreographed a dance routine to Nelly's 2002 hit "Hot in Herre" and wanted him to make a surprise appearance during her concert in Houston, Texas. Due to budget limitations, Swift could only offer a flat fee of $50,000. Nelly jokingly suggested the payment be delivered in a McDonald's bag, a request Swift humorously accommodated.
"She called me one night, just out of the blue, and said, 'Yo, Nelly, listen, me and my friends, we made a routine to Hot in Herre last night and I wanna ask you a really big favor,'" Nelly said. He noted that Swift mentioned her budget constraints but offered to send her private jet to transport him and cover his accommodation. Despite Swift's budget concerns, she offered $50,000.
Nelly recalled his response, "Can you put that in a McDonald’s bag?" He added that he would have performed the three-minute set for free. Swift provided a G5 private jet for Nelly and his entourage to travel to Houston. The performance took place at a stadium where Swift was performing for approximately 56,000 people.
Following the performance, Swift's manager reportedly handed Nelly a McDonald's bag containing $50,000 in cash. Nelly emphasized that the money was not the primary concern, stating, "the money wasn't really the issue." He also mentioned that Swift arranged for a presidential suite at a hotel near the stadium, though they did not end up using it.
Nelly also shared that he has known Swift for a long time, with connections through her father and management. While recounting the events, Nelly slightly mixed up some tour details. He performed "Just a Dream" with Swift in Houston during the Speak Now tour. Later collaborations included "Hey Porsche" during Swift's Red Tour in 2013 and "The Fix" and "Hot in Herre" during her 1989 World Tour in 2015.
This revelation follows Swift's recent induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. During her acceptance speech, she described fame as a byproduct of her love for music and shared how she navigates its challenges by reflecting on her country music roots and memories. She recalled her early days in Nashville, where she secured a publishing deal at 14, humorously comparing herself to a sponge with curly yellow hair.
Nelly and his wife, Ashanti, who also attended Swift's recent event with Travis Kelce, tied the knot in December 2023 after a relationship spanning over two decades.
