Rapper Nelly has shared a humorous yet heartwarming anecdote about his collaboration with Taylor Swift during her 2011 Speak Now tour. Recently appearing on The Breakfast Club alongside his wife Ashanti, the 51-year-old performer recounted the memorable moments surrounding Swift’s invitation for him to perform in Houston, Texas.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/taylor-swift-nelly-01-103026-6dcbc82fc11a44e49d063e21f754caca.jpg)
The story dates back to when Swift, 36, unexpectedly reached out to Nelly while he was in St. Louis. “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. I want to ask you a really big favour,’” he recalled. Although Swift wanted him to come along to Houston, she admitted that she didn’t have a substantial budget to facilitate the trip.
What followed was a light-hearted negotiation; Swift proposed to arrange a private plane and accommodations for Nelly and his children, along with a payment of $50,000. “I said, ‘Can you put that in a McDonald’s bag?’ I would have done it for free!” he jested. Nelly explained that Swift then sent a G5 jet to collect him and his kids, and true to her word, her father, along with a mutual friend, presented him with a McDonald’s bag. Inside? The $50,000 payment.
Nelly expressed his amusement at the unconventional payment method, describing the situation as “hilarious.” While he never actually saw the dance routine Swift and her friends had created for his hit song “Hot in Herre,” he performed his track “Just a Dream” with her during the concert in Houston. This not only highlights the playful spirit of their collaboration but also emphasises the friendly rapport they share.
Their connection has continued beyond the 2011 tour. Nelly made surprise appearances during Swift’s Red Tour in 2013 and her 1989 World Tour in 2015, where he performed “Hot in Herre” with the pop icon and the band Haim. Their musical teamwork displays a long-standing friendship built on mutual admiration, which Nelly likens to that of siblings.
In addition to discussing his musical history with Swift, Nelly and Ashanti have been promoting their series, “Nelly & Ashanti: We Belong Together,” which is set to begin streaming on Peacock on November 19. The couple has been busy sharing their journey, with Ashanti even attending Swift’s wedding to NFL star Travis Kelce in New York City earlier this July. She shared her impressions of the wedding on Good Day New York, calling the ceremony “magical” and describing the venue as resembling a beautiful garden.
Nelly has previously expressed his affection for Swift, stating that he has known her for quite some time, considering her a “little sister.” Their relationship illustrates the warmth and community within the music industry, as both artists have supported each other throughout their careers. Referring to Swift’s impact and potential, Nelly remarked, “Before it’s all said and done, she could possibly be top five females of all time. As a matter of fact, I know she will.”
As Nelly continues to enjoy his successful music career and promote his television series, he looks back at moments like performing with Swift as a testament to the enduring friendships and collaborations that characterise the entertainment world. The story of the McDonald’s bag has now added another entertaining layer to their relationship, highlighting the lightheartedness and camaraderie that can exist between two vastly different genres of music.