Paul McCartney was visibly emotional as news broke that Robert Redford, the legendary actor, director, and founder of the Sundance Film Festival, had passed away at the age of 89. The two icons of art — one from music, one from film — had shared a quiet friendship over the years, bound by their mutual respect for storytelling, creativity, and the courage to go against the grain.

Speaking to reporters through his publicist, McCartney released a heartfelt statement that quickly spread across social media. “Robert was more than an icon of cinema — he was a true artist and a dear friend,” McCartney wrote. “When I lost Linda, I was in one of the darkest moments of my life. Robert quietly flew to London, came to my home, and sat with me for hours, no cameras, no press, just two men talking about grief and life. I will never forget when he told me, ‘Paul, art heals — keep creating, because that’s how we keep those we love alive.’ Those words became a mantra for me in the years that followed.”

Fans were stunned to learn about the private moment between two giants of their fields. According to McCartney, that conversation inspired him to write several songs that appeared on his later albums. “I’d sit at the piano late at night, thinking about what Robert said. Somehow, music became less of a job and more of a way to breathe again. He reminded me that the purpose of what we do — music, film, painting — is to help people feel less alone. That was Robert’s gift, not just to me but to the world.”

Sources close to the former Beatle said that McCartney spent the evening revisiting some of Redford’s classic films, including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and Ordinary People, calling them “masterclasses in human emotion.” He reportedly cried during the final scenes, saying it felt like losing a brother. “Robert had this rare ability to put the soul of a character on screen,” McCartney later told BBC Radio. “He made you believe in the goodness of flawed people. That’s something I’ve always tried to do in my songs — to capture the beauty in imperfection.”

The connection between McCartney and Redford dates back to the 1970s, when the Beatles were breaking apart and Redford was at the height of his stardom. The two met at a charity event in Los Angeles and quickly struck up a conversation about art, politics, and the environment. “He was so passionate about nature, about protecting the world for future generations,” McCartney said. “We’d write letters to each other about conservation efforts, long before it became a popular cause. He had this gentle, persuasive way of inspiring people to act.”

Over the years, the two men occasionally crossed paths at award shows and charity galas, but their friendship deepened in the late 1990s, after Linda McCartney’s passing. Friends recall that Redford kept in touch with Paul regularly during that time, checking in and encouraging him to keep working. “He never pushed,” McCartney remembered. “He just reminded me that creativity was a safe place — a place where grief could turn into something beautiful.”

As tributes poured in from across Hollywood, McCartney’s words stood out for their intimacy. “The world has lost a pioneer,” he wrote on X. “But I have lost someone who once held my hand when I thought I couldn’t go on. I’ll be forever grateful.”

In a particularly moving gesture, McCartney announced that he would dedicate a new song — one he had been quietly working on — to Redford’s memory. The song, reportedly titled The Last Sunset, will premiere later this year. “It’s about friendship, about the quiet strength someone can give you when you’re falling apart,” McCartney said. “Robert had that strength. He carried it with grace.”

Fans from both the music and film worlds have been sharing clips of McCartney and Redford together at various events, including a rare photograph of the two smiling side by side at a Sundance benefit concert in 2005. Many said they never knew the depth of their friendship, and McCartney’s words gave them a new perspective on Redford’s influence beyond the screen.

At his London home, flowers and handwritten notes began appearing outside McCartney’s gate, with messages such as “Thank you for sharing Robert with us” and “Art heals — we believe that too.” For many, McCartney’s tribute served as a reminder that grief and inspiration are intertwined — and that Redford’s legacy will live on in ways far beyond cinema.

Perhaps the most touching moment came at the end of McCartney’s statement, where he wrote, “Robert loved sunsets. He once told me, after a long walk in Utah, that sunsets were proof that endings could be beautiful. Today, as I watch the sky turn gold and red, I think of him. May we all keep telling stories, painting pictures, singing songs — and making endings as beautiful as he did.”