Paul McCartney celebrates healthcare workers during One World: Together At Home performance as he pays tribute to his late mother Mary who was a nurse and midwife 

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Paul McCartney celebrated healthcare workers as he performed during the star-studded Global Citizen One World: Together at Home live concert on Saturday night.

The Beatles star, 77, discussed the COVID-19 pandemic as he revealed he had a 'lot of time' for hospital frontline staff as his late mother, Mary, was a nurse and midwife.

Speaking before his performance of Lady Madonna at his home, Paul said: 'I'm very honoured to be part of this programme that celebrates healthcare workers.

'As this COVID-19 pandemic is a global crisis, let's tell our leaders we need them to strengthen the healthcare systems all around the world.

'My mother, Mary, was a nurse and midwife before and during World War II. I have a lot of time for healthcare workers. We love you, thank you.'

Paul sadly lost his mother, Mary, when he was 14-years-old in 1956. She tragically passed away from an embolism after an operation for breast cancer.

Eight months later, in the summer of 1957, Paul met late bandmate John Lennon, who was also soon to lose his mother in a road accident aged just 17. 

The singer has previously said that their shared sense of loss helped bond them, cementing their early friendship.

Paul named his first born daughter Mary, 50, after his late mother in 1969.

The Liverpudlian singer will be joined by a host of other stars for the concert which will be streamed live from their various homes.

The event's curator is Lady Gaga who will herself perform along with 100 artists Billie Eilish, The Rolling Stones and Taylor Swift.

Chris Martin, Annie Lennox, Jennifer Lopez, Shawn Mendes, Stevie Wonder, The Killers, Adam Lambert, Kesha, Billy Ray Cyrus, Sheryl Crow, Niall Horan and countless more are also slated to perform for the virtual concert.

The eight-hour event will be hosted by Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert and be shown live on multiple online platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Facebook, Instagram, TuneIn, Twitch, Twitter and YouTube. 

The purpose of the concert is to show support for frontline workers and is being run by the Global Citizen movement and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Global Citizen said: 'We may be apart right now, but coming together has never been more important.'

Proceeds generated will go to the Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the WHO, but Lady Gaga stressed it is not a fundraising telethon.

It will instead focus on music and entertainment with stories of nurses and doctors fighting coronavirus.

A six-hour pre-show was available to stream online from 7pm, before a two-hour concert takes place both online and on television from 1am in the UK.