Don McLean Surprises Jessie Murph with a Magical “American Pie” Duet in Los Angeles

Murph, just 21, was already in full swing on her “Sex Hysteria Tour” when McLean appeared. The moment was unexpected, electric, and rare. In fact, McLean has performed “American Pie” as a duet only twice before once with Garth Brooks in 1997 and again with vocal group Home Free in 2021. On Saturday night, Jessie Murph became only the third artist to share the song with him, earning her a place in a very short but very special history.

A timeless anthem still sparking debate

First released in 1971, “American Pie” runs nearly nine minutes and has long been one of the most discussed songs in modern music. Part personal memoir, part cultural commentary, the lyrics have been analyzed and debated for decades. Was it about the end of innocence? The chaos of the 1960s? Or McLean’s own reflections on loss and change? Probably all of the above.

The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972, earned McLean four Grammy nominations, and cemented his reputation as one of America’s greatest musical storytellers. But he doesn’t often let others sing it alongside him which is what made this duet with Murph feel like lightning in a bottle.

Jessie Murph’s dream come true

For Jessie Murph, the night was nothing short of surreal. “Last night was so magical and incredible and sparkling, I feel like the luckiest girl on earth,” she wrote on Instagram the following day.

It was a full-circle moment for an artist who’s often spoken about her desire to create timeless music. Raised in Athens, Alabama, Murph has quickly built a reputation for mixing genres with fearless honesty. Her debut album, That Ain’t No Man That’s the Devil (2024), and her follow-up, Sex Hysteria (2025), prove she can slide from raw rap verses to vulnerable ballads without missing a beat.

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, she named Elton John, Adele, and yes Don McLean as some of her biggest inspirations. Sharing the stage with him wasn’t just a career milestone; it was a symbolic passing of the torch.

When nostalgia meets the now

The duet came three-quarters into Murph’s set, tucked between high-energy songs like “Dirty,” “Gucci Mane,” and “A Little Too Drunk.” For a few minutes, the Shrine’s energy shifted. The crowd, phones raised, sang every word of “American Pie” , a half-century-old anthem still alive and powerful in the hands of two artists from entirely different eras.

That’s the magic of a song like “American Pie.” It’s both a time capsule and a living thing, constantly evolving with each new generation of listeners. On Saturday night, Don McLean and Jessie Murph reminded everyone in the room why music matters: it bridges decades, tells our stories, and when the stars align makes us feel like we’re part of something eternal.