Paul McCartney's White House Appearance Rocks Washington

By: Jessica Derschowitz
Topics: Television ,; Music

President Barack Obama, right, presents former Beatle Paul McCartney with the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, June 2, 2010. The ceremony aired July 28 on PBS.

(Credit: AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

NEW YORK (CBS) Paul McCartney performed and was honored at a White House celebration of the British star.

The former Beatle was awarded the third Gershwin Prize for Popular Song from the Library of Congress at the event, which took place in June and was aired on PBS Wednesday night.

Pictures: McCartney at the White House
Pictures: Paul McCartney

The show opened with some kind words from President Obama, who said, "It's hard to believe that it's been nearly half a century since four lads from Liverpool landed on our shores and changed everything overnight.".

Stars including Stevie Wonder, Elvis Costello, Faith Hill and the Jonas Brothers then paid homage to McCartney and his beloved song catalog. Wonder sang "We Can Work It Out," Costello performed "Penny Lane," Hill sang "The Long and Winding Road" and the Jonas Brothers did a rendition of "Drive My Car."

The highlight of the night may have been the finale, when the president and other famous attendees joined McCartney onstage for a singalong at the end of "Hey Jude."

Watch that video below: