Art Garfunkel, Jimmy Fallon & Busta Rhymes Among Charlie Puth’s Surprise Guests at Madison Square Garden

Charlie Puth‘s night at Madison Square Garden featured a handful of big names as surprise guests, and Billboard was on the ground to capture some of those moments on video.

Puth headlined the famed New York City concert venue Friday night (May 29) as part of his Whatever’s Clever World Tour, which kicked off just over a month ago in support of his 2026 Whatever’s Clever! album. The show saw him welcome Art Garfunkel, Jimmy Fallon, Busta Rhymes and Kirk Franklin to the stage to perform with him during a 23-song set.

First surprise of the show: an appearance from Art Garfunkel for a heartfelt duet with Puth on Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Boxer,” a Hot 100 top 10 hit in 1969 that was a track on the duo’s final studio album, Bridge Over Troubled Water. “He learned how to make his records from me and Paul,” Garfunkel told the New York crowd on Friday. “You’re my student.”

Puth agreed: “I am your student. I’m not just saying that because all these wonderful people are here. The reason that I’m here right now is because of the music you’ve written with Paul. It’s amazing.”

Midway through Puth’s set, Jimmy Fallon, wearing sunglasses, joined the singer for an ’80s hit, Toto’s “Africa” — their biggest single, a No. 1 on the chart in 1983. After sharing a quick hug, Fallon presented the night’s star with a custom New York Rangers jersey with “PUTH” and the number 26 across its back.

Keeping the mid-show energy on the rise, the next unexpected guest on Puth’s stage was Busta Rhymes bringing a classic from the early 2000s, “Break Ya Neck,” and one from the late ’90s, “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See” — plus a slightly more recent hit, “Look at Me Now,” the 2011 Chris Brown single Busta featured on alongside Lil Wayne.

The rapper closed with leading the city in a round of cheers for his host: “New York City, please make some noise for our brother, your brother, the incredible Charlie Puth.”

Even more entertainment was to come. Kirk Franklin arrived to give spirited performances with Puth of two of his own songs, “I Smile” and “Lean On Me,” and a cover of gospel group God’s Poperty’s “Stomp.”

Puth’s tour continues Saturday night (May 30) in Atlantic City, N.J., before heading south. He’s set to perform across the U.S. through mid-June, then head overseas for a European leg.