He’s the most popular man in showbiz! As Chris Martin brings Michael J Fox on stage during his Glastonbury set, how Coldplay’s frontman boasts some VERY unlikely A-list friendships

As the sun went down on Worthy Farm last night, thousands of people gathered to catch the performance of one of Britain’s most acclaimed bands, Coldplay.

Around 100,000 watched as lead singer, Chris Martin, surprised fans after Michael J. Fox on to stage appeared on stage in his wheelchair to play the guitar during Fix You and Humankind.

Coldplay made history yesterday by becoming the first group to headline Glastonbury five times, with Chris Martin, 47, crediting Michael for being the ‘main reason’ they are in a group. 

But the lead singer’s surprising friendship isn’t an isolated case of seemingly unlikely bonds, as Chris Martin counts a number of A-listers among his best pals – some of whom may surprise people.

The band’s frontman is pals with celebrities reaching as far over the world as his music, having shared the stage with the like of Kylie Minogue, Prince Harry and K-Pop superstar BTS singer Jin. 

Here, FEMAIL takes a look at some of Martin’s closest – and most unlikely – friendships. 

Michael J. Fox

At Coldplay’s record breaking performance yesterday, Chris Martin took a moment to personally thank Michael J. Fox for his contribution to the creation of the band, telling crowds they would never existed if it weren’t for him.

Michael, 63, who is currently battling Parkinson’s, was invited on stage by the Coldplay star to play the guitar during Fix You and Humankind. The actor is known for his musical talent and famously played the guitar in the iconic 1985 sci-fi movie.

His contribution to the onset of Coldplay was starring in Back To The Future, which Chris explained was what the foursome inspired them to become a band.

He said: ‘The main reason why we’re in a band is because of watching ‘Back to the Future’, so thank you to our hero forever and one of the most amazing people on Earth, Mr Michael J. Fox. Thank you so much, Michael’. 

It’s not the first time that the pair have jammed together on stage. In 2016, by the persuasion of Chris’ son, Moses Martin, Michael J. Fox was invited on stage by Coldplay to create the famous Back To The Future guitar scene.

He said that the sci-fi movie was his son’s favourite film, as well as having inspired Coldplay to form as a band. 

The performance in New Jersey saw Michael playing a Les Paul guitar, while the two then proceed to play Chuck Berry’s Johnny B Goode, mimicking the one of the best loved moments in the film.

Later discussing the performance on the Kelly Clarkson show, Chris reiterated how special his connection was to the actor. 

‘That’s what made me want to be in a band, you know? That scene, yeah,’ he said, describing their performance of ‘Johnny B. Goode’ by Chuck Berry. 

Gwyneth Paltrow

It’s hard to overestimate the influence that Gwyneth Paltrow, 51, has had on Chris’ celebrity circle. The LA-born Shakespeare In Love actress was married to Chris for 10 years and is famously well rich in A-lister connections.

The daughter of producer and director Bruce Paltrow and Tony Award-winning actress Blythe Danner, first met the musician in October 2002, two months after the release of Coldplay’s breakout album A Rush of Blood to the Head.

They were married just over a year later and share two children together, Apple Martin, 20, and Moses Martin, 18.

Prior to their marriage in 2003, the Goop founder had an already impressive roster of famous boyfriends including Brad Pitt, and Ben Affleck whom she dated in the late nineties. 

While the two had what Gwyneth described as a ‘deep thing’, their marriage was not meant to last and the two famously split in 2014, describing their break-up as a ‘conscious uncoupling’. 

Despite the separation, they have remained incredibly friends – and say their relationship is better off as a result. 

Since, Gwyneth as even described Chris as like a ‘little brother’. She said: I’m really close to him. We’re a family. Even though we’re not in a romantic relationship, we’re a true family and we like to do things to reinforce that we’re a family for the children [and] for each other…’

On the singer’s 40th birthday in 2017, Gwyneth shared and affectionate family picture of the family together. ‘HAPPY 40th BIRTHDAY to the best daddy in the world!!! We [love] you so much!’ she captioned the picture. 

Gwyneth is now married to producer Brad Falchuk while Chris has been in a relationship with actress, Dakota Johnson, since 2017 – the two actresses reportedly became fast friends, despite the would-be love triangle.

Kylie Minogue

Earlier this year, the surprising bond between Kylie Minogue and Coldplay’s front man, was revealed after the two gushed about their admiration for the other.

The Australian pop legend, 55, described herself as a huge Coldplay fan and told how they have become close friends over their decades in the limelight.

Chris recently gushed over Kylie in a sweet essay penned for TIME after she was named in the TIME100 list of the most influential people of 2024.

He said how the Neighbours actress-turned-pop star was one of the first people he ever met on TV, and said he had been a fan of hers for nearly 15 years before then. 

Responding to his tribute, Kylie told how there is a ‘mutual respect’ and ‘love’ between them as she gave an insight into their longtime friendship.

‘I was a Coldplay fan from, I mean Millennium. I may have worn out the CD,’ Kylie told Us Weekly at the TIME 100 Gala. ‘There’s a mutual respect and admiration and friendship and love there.’

Kylie and Chris have joined each other on stage on a number of occasions over the years, including at Glastonbury in 2019. 

Speaking about his Aussie friend at the festival, Chris said: ‘The day that this person came to see our show in the year 2000, we thought that someone had landed from Mars, because she had basically just come off the television, as far as we could tell.’

‘We’d grown up loving her,’ he added. ‘And then she got better and better, and still keeps getting better and better.’

Prince Harry

Back to his Brit pals, another on Chris’ surprising friendship roster is Prince Harry. 

The Duke of Sussex, 39, and the Coldplay frontman have reportedly been friends for over a decade with the musician even being name dropped in the royal’s infamous 2023 memoir, Spare.

The prince and the performer were pictured on stage in 2014 after Coldplay produced a song for the inaugural of the Invictus Games which was based on William Ernest Henley’s 19th-century poem, Invictus.

The two were pictured on social media in the recording studio ahead of the musical release, seemingly very pally. 

Harry also turned to the help of his musician friend in June 2016 when he enlisted him and the band to play the Sentebale concert in Kensington Palace to help raise money and awareness of the challenges faced by young people affected by HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.

During the concert, Harry stood behind the choir and swayed as he sung the lyrics to the hit song Up&Up, shaking hands with Chris when the performance came to an end.

Now Harry and wife, Meghan Markle like in Montecito, California, its likely that their relationship to the Coldplay has only strengthened, with Chris living just 62 miles away in Malibu.

BTS

Coldplay’s lead singer Chris Martin and BTS crooner Jin have had a blossoming friendship ever since their bands collaborated in 2021.

Their smash-hit My Universe debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

The incredible feat was the Korean groups sixth chart-topping song in the US and Coldplay’s second after the 2008 single Viva La Vida.

Chris and Jin have publicly spoken of their admiration for one another, with the Coldplay singer even gifting the Korean star his favourite guitar with ‘Worldwide Handsome Jin’ inscribed on the side. 

In 2021, Coldplay teamed up with global-sensation BTS to bring the masses My Universe.

Discussing the creative process, lead singer Chris Martin described the boy-band as a ‘joy’ to work with. ‘I love them, and we love them, and it’s been such a joy,’ he said.

Later that year, the popular groups took to the American Music Awards stage to perform their global hit song My Universe.

BTS as a whole have never hid their love for the British group, stating that Coldplay was their favourite rock band, with lead singer Jin previously telling an interviewer in 2017 that Coldplay’s Viva La Vida was his favourite song.

Jay Z

Chris and Rap mogul Jay-Z, 54,  are well known for their tight bromance that’s been going since 2003.

Speaking about their newly found friendship in 2012, Chris admitted he know the spark was unusual. 

‘We’re from very different backgrounds. But we love the same stuff everyone else loves. I love his music, and he’s a super-cool guy, and he’s genuine,’ he said.

‘I think more people wonder why he’s friends with me. Of course, I want to be friends with Jay-Z – he’s cool as f**k. In Britain, they’re like, ‘How are you friends with Jay-Z?’ It’s almost like they’re jealous. It’s the same with my wife, ‘How the f**k did you manage to do that?’ And my answer is, ‘I have no idea.’ ‘ 

When the two first became friends, Chris said that Jay-Z had been teaching him how to play American football, after the two realised they shared a love of sport.

Commenting on the strange companions, Chris’ ex wife, Gwyneth Paltrow said that the two worked well together as friends because they ‘balance’ each other.

She told Q magazine: ‘They balance each other out. Chris and I are like Jay and Beyonce; two paranoid ironists and two calm grounded people.’ 

Back in 2017, the 23-time Grammy winner called Chris a ‘genius’ and a ‘modern day Shakespeare’ while discussing their friendship.

‘We are good friends – but what I got to say has nothing to do with our friendship,’ Jay told Metro’s Guilty Pleasures.

‘I have been in the industry long enough to know when I’m in the presence of a genius and Chris Martin is just that. In years to come, Britain will look back at him as a modern day Shakespeare.

‘He is an incredible recording artist, an incredible songwriter, but where he really comes alive is performing live. If you get the chance to see Coldplay live, do it – you ain’t gonna regret it.’

The high-rolling hip-hop star enlisted Martin to provide guest vocals on his 2006 track Beach Chair and his 2010 track Most Kingz.

Jay-Z famously invited the seven-time Grammy winner and his then-wife Gwyneth Paltrow to his intimate 2008 wedding to Beyoncé Knowles.

The two were spotted in 2022 at Disney World California where they enjoyed a day out with their respective families. 

Chris was joined by Jay-Z and his daughter Blue Ivy, 12, alongside celebrity couple, Dakota Johnson and Martin’s teenagers Apple, and Moses.

Beyonce 

Beyonce and her rapper husband, Jay Z ,have been friends with Chris for more than a decade, and were often spotted spending time together as a group when the Coldplay star was married to actress Gwyneth Paltrow.

When Chris and his band headlined the Super Bowl 50 Halftime Show in 2016, he invited the 39-year-old R&B diva as well as Bruno Mars to be special guest performers.

The one collaborated to produce the song ‘Hymn For The Weekend’ – a clubby track – in 2015.

The song, which is one track on Coldplay’s album, A Head Full of Dreams, is the result of Chris not only being good pals with Beyonce, but being a huge admirer of her work.

Chris and his ex-wife first met Beyonce and Jay-Z at an NYC benefit concert and instantly hit it off as friends.

Speaking of the foursome friends, Gwyneth said: ‘We all became friends… I normally don’t do that, but [we vibed] in that particular case… They’re the greatest people. They are funny and sweet, and self-aware and really intelligent. 

 In 2010, Beyonce performed Halo for the Hope For Haiti Benefit in 2010, and Martin joined her on the keys in a duet. 

Even after the divorce between Gwyneth and Chris, it appears that their friendships with the musical couple remains strong. 

Another collaborator in the album was Jay-Z and Beyonce’s daughter, Blue Ivy, who sang as part of a choir for one of his songs.