Charlie Puth turned his first-ever headlining concert at Madison Square Garden into a celebration of the artists who helped shape his musical identity, and one surprise guest in particular underscored a theme he has been discussing throughout 2026. During the sold-out New York City performance on May 29, Puth welcomed gospel legend Kirk Franklin to the stage, capping off a night that blended pop, rap, folk, and gospel influences in front of a packed crowd.

According to The Aquarian , the appearance came near the end of a two-hour set built around Puth’s latest album, Whatever’s Clever! . After performing fan favorites such as “Attention,” “How Long,” “We Don’t Talk Anymore,” and “One Call Away,” Puth told the audience that church music had played a significant role in shaping his songwriting.…