Steve Martin has hosted 4 season openers, greater than anybody else. However who’s essentially the most frequent musical visitor on a season premiere?

From left: Kanye West, Madonna, Miley Cyrus, Steve Martin, Tom Hanks and Megan Thee Stallion
Illustration by Lyanne Natividad
When host Jalen Brunson and musical visitor KATSEYE take the stage at Studio 8H in New York for Saturday Night time Reside’s Season 52 opener on Saturday (Sept. 26), they’ll be a part of a protracted and star-studded lineage. We took a glance again to see who was booked as host and musical visitor on the primary episodes of each earlier season of the present.
These are thought of plum bookings: Viewers usually make an additional effort to take a look at the primary episode of a season. Consequently, producers go all out to open the season with a powerful episode. For SNL, which means reserving a sizzling host and musical visitor.
They’ve positively performed that this yr. KATSEYE has logged six prime 40 hits on the Billboard Scorching 100, topped by “Gabriela,” which reached No. 21. They acquired two Grammy nods for the ceremony earlier this yr: greatest new artist and greatest pop duo/group efficiency for “Gabriela.” KATSEYE will grow to be the primary all-female group to be the musical visitor on a season-opening episode of SNL.
Brunson, the New York Knicks’ All-Star level guard and 2026 NBA Finals MVP, will grow to be the third basketball star to host a season-opener, following Charles Barkley (1993) and LeBron James (2007).
Legendary comic George Carlin was host of the primary episode on Oct. 11, 1975. There have been two musical company that evening — Billy Preston and Janis Ian — each of whom had had huge latest hits on the Billboard Scorching 100.
Steve Martin has hosted 4 season-openers, greater than anybody else. Tom Hanks is in second place, having hosted two season-openers.
Ye (previously Kanye West) has been the musical visitor on three season-openers, greater than anybody else. The Rolling Stones and Miley Cyrus are the one performers who have been each host and musical visitor on a season-opener.
When you’re prepared to return in time, listed here are the hosts and musical company on the primary episode of each SNL season.
Season 1

Picture Credit score: Herb Ball/NBCU Picture Financial institution/GI Date: Oct. 11, 1975
Host: George Carlin
Musical company: Billy Preston and Janis Ian
Notes: This was the one time there have been two unrelated musical company for an SNL season opener. Preston carried out “Nothing From Nothing,” a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Scorching 100 in October 1974, and his present single “Fancy Girl.” Ian carried out her traditional “At Seventeen,” a No. 3 hit on the Scorching 100, and “Within the Winter.” Each of Ian’s songs have been featured on Between the Strains, which had topped the Billboard 200 within the concern dated Sept. 20. As host, Carlin carried out three monologues, together with his traditional “Baseball-Soccer” routine.
Season 2
Date: Sept. 18, 1976
Host: Lily Tomlin
Musical visitor: James Taylor
Notes: Taylor carried out three songs – “Bathe the Folks,” which was at its No. 22 peak on the Scorching 100 on the time; a canopy of Jr. Walker & the All-Stars 1966 hit “(I’m a) Highway Runner” (that includes saxophonist David Sanborn); and the traditional title monitor from his 1970 album Candy Child James. “Bathe the Folks” was drawn from Taylor’s album Within the Pocket, which had reached No. 16 on the Billboard 200 in August. “(I’m a) Highway Runner” wound up on Taylor’s 2008 album, Covers.
Season 3
Date: Sept. 24, 1977
Host: Steve Martin
Musical visitor: Jackson Browne
Notes: Browne carried out the title monitor from his upcoming album Operating on Empty and the title monitor from his 1976 album The Pretender. The Pretender was his first album to succeed in the highest 5 on the Billboard 200, hitting No. 5 in December 1976. Operating on Empty reached No. 3 in March 1978. This episode marked the primary look of the Festrunk Brothers, higher generally known as “two wild and loopy guys,” performed by Martin and Dan Aykroyd. Two months after this episode aired, Martin landed his first prime 10 album on the Billboard 200, Let’s Get Small.
Season 4
Date: Oct. 7, 1978
Host: The Rolling Stones
Musical visitor: The Rolling Stones
Notes: The Stones carried out three songs from Some Women, a No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 for 2 weeks in July – “Beast of Burden,” “Respectable” and “Shattered.” As well as, band members appeared in two sketches — a parody of The Tomorrow Present, during which Tom Snyder (performed by Dan Aykroyd) interviews Mick Jagger; and an Olympia Cafe sketch, which featured Charlie Watts and Ron Wooden.
Season 5

Picture Credit score: Fred Hermansky/NBCU Picture Financial institution/GI Date: Oct. 13, 1979
Host: Steve Martin
Musical visitor: Blondie
Notes: Blondie was the primary act related to the brand new wave scene to be booked as a season-opening musical visitor. They carried out their then-current hit “Dreaming” and what would grow to be its follow-up, “The Hardest Half.” Each songs have been drawn from Eat to the Beat, which might attain its No. 17 peak on the Billboard 200 in November.
Season 6
Date: Nov. 15, 1980
Host: Elliott Gould
Musical visitor: Child Creole & the Coconuts
Notes: Child Creole was a buzzy group on the time, however SNL was positively early in giving them this sort of publicity. They’d not but cracked the Billboard 200 or the Scorching 100. Child Creole carried out “Mister Softee” (from their non-charting 1980 album Off the Coast of Me) and “There However for the Grace of God Go I” (a non-album single). This was Jean Doumanian’s first episode as government producer. She changed Lorne Michaels, who left the present, together with the first forged members, after 5 years of service. He’d be again.
Season 7
Date: Oct. 3, 1981
Host: none
Musical visitor: Rod Stewart
Notes: Stewart carried out his present hit “Younger Turks,” which might hit No. 5 on the Scorching 100 in December. He additionally reached again a yr for “She Received’t Dance With Me” after which almost 4 years for “Scorching Legs.” Tina Turner joined him on “Scorching Legs.” (This was within the interval the place she was rebuilding her profession earlier than her triumphant 1984 comeback.)
Season 8
Date: Sept. 25, 1982
Host: Chevy Chase
Musical visitor: Queen
Notes: Queen carried out “Loopy Little Factor Referred to as Love,” a No. 1 hit on the Scorching 100 in early 1980, and their 1981 hit “Below Strain” (however sans David Bowie, with whom they teamed on the document.) This was Queen’s closing reside efficiency within the U.S. with lead singer Freddie Mercury, who would die 9 years later. Chase, who was the breakout forged member in SNL’s first season earlier than leaving to pursue a movie profession, hosted this episode. However, weirdly, he wasn’t in New York. His segments have been taped at NBC studios in Burbank, Calif.
Season 9
Date: Oct. 8, 1983
Host: Brandon Tartikoff
Musical visitor: John Cougar Mellencamp
Notes: Tartikoff, the top of NBC’s leisure division, was an odd option to be the host of a season-opener. The extremely regarded government was hardly a family identify (besides in households that learn Selection). Tartikoff died in 1997, at age 48, from Hodgkin lymphoma. Mellencamp carried out “Crumblin’ Down” and “Pink Homes.” Each songs have been featured on his album Uh-Huh, which might attain No. 9 on the Billboard 200 in January 1984. Each songs turned prime 10 hits on the Scorching 100.
Season 10
Date: Oct. 6, 1984
Host: none
Musical visitor: Thompson Twins
Notes: Thompson Twins carried out “Maintain Me Now,” a No. 3 hit on the Scorching 100 in Might, and their forthcoming single “The Hole.” Each songs have been from their album Into the Hole, which had reached No. 10 on the Billboard 200 in Might.
Season 11

Picture Credit score: Alan Singer/NBCU Picture Financial institution/GI Date: Nov. 9, 1985
Host: Madonna
Musical visitor: Easy Minds
Notes: SNL had one of many greatest music stars on the planet – as a number. Go determine. Easy Minds carried out “Alive & Kicking,” which might attain No. 3 on the Scorching 100 in December. It was drawn from As soon as Upon a Time, the band’s solely prime 10 album on the Billboard 200. The album would attain No. 10 in March 1986. This episode marked Lorne Michaels’ return as government producer.
Season 12
Date: Oct. 11, 1986
Host: Sigourney Weaver
Musical visitor: none
Notes: Whereas there was no official “musical visitor,” Buster Poindexter appeared as a particular visitor and carried out three songs. Weaver had starred in the summertime box-office smash, Aliens. Madonna appeared within the chilly open to learn a mock assertion from NBC concerning the lackluster earlier season: “It was all a dream—a horrible, horrible dream.” This performed off the season premiere of Dallas two weeks earlier during which all of the occasions of the earlier season have been revealed to be Pam’s unhealthy dream.
Season 13
Date: Oct. 17, 1987
Host: Steve Martin
Musical visitor: Sting
Notes: This was Martin’s third time internet hosting a season-opener. Sting carried out “We’ll Be Collectively,” which might attain No. 7 on the Scorching 100 in December, and “Little Wing.” Each songs appeared on his second solo album, …Nothing Just like the Solar, which later hit No. 9 on the Billboard 200 in November and December. Sting additionally appeared in a sketch as James Bond villain Goldsting.
Season 14
Date: Oct. 8, 1988
Host: Tom Hanks
Musical visitor: Keith Richards
Notes: The Rolling Stones guitarist carried out “Take It So Arduous” and “Wrestle” from his first solo album, Discuss Is Low-cost. The album would attain No. 24 on the Billboard 200 in November. Hanks’ movie Punchline opened the day earlier than this episode aired. His earlier 1988 movie, Large, made a much bigger impression, and would carry him his first Oscar nomination for greatest actor.
Season 15
Date: Sept. 30, 1989
Host: Bruce Willis
Musical visitor: Neil Younger
Notes: Younger carried out “Rockin’ within the Free World” and “No Extra” from his then-current album Freedom and “The Needle and the Harm Performed” from his traditional 1972 album Harvest. Harvest topped the Billboard 200 for 2 weeks in March 1972; Freedom would attain No. 35 on that chart in November. Willis’ hit movie Look Who’s Speaking – Willis was the voice of the child – opened two weeks after this episode aired.
Season 16

Picture Credit score: Alan Singer/NBCU Picture Financial institution/GI Date: Sept. 29, 1990
Host: Kyle MacLachlan
Musical Visitor: Sinéad O’Connor
Notes: O’Connor carried out “Three Infants” and “The Final Day of Our Acquaintance.” Each songs have been from I Do Not Need What I Haven’t Acquired, which had spent six consecutive weeks atop the Billboard 200 that spring. Author Conan O’Brien appeared within the inevitable Twin Peaks sketch. (MacLachlan starred in that collection.)
Season 17
Date: Sept. 28, 1991
Host: Michael Jordan
Musical Visitor: Public Enemy
Notes: Public Enemy was the primary rap act to be the musical visitor in a season-opener on SNL. They carried out “Can’t Truss It” and “Convey the Noise.” “Truss” appeared on their album Apocalypse 91…The Enemy Strikes Black, whereas “Noise” was initially launched on the group’s breakthrough It Takes a Nation of Hundreds of thousands to Maintain Us Again set in 1988, however would later be memorably re-recorded together with steel band Anthrax for Apocalypse 91. The latter album would enter the Billboard 200 at No. 4 within the concern dated Oct. 19, the group’s highest rating ever on that chart. Jordan was the primary athlete to host a season-opener of SNL. This was the primary time that each the host and the musical visitor on a SNL season-opener have been Black, an indication of change in TV.
Season 18
Date: Sept. 26, 1992
Host: Nicolas Cage
Musical Visitor: Bobby Brown
Notes: Brown carried out “Humpin’ Round” and “Good Sufficient.” Each songs appeared on his album Bobby, which had entered the Billboard 200 at No. 2 within the concern dated Sept. 12, and each went prime 10 on the Scorching 100. Brown additionally appeared within the “Queen Shenequa Present” sketch. Cage was coming off the summer season boxoffice hit Honeymoon in Vegas.
Season 19
Date: Sept. 25, 1993
Host: Charles Barkley
Musical visitor: Nirvana
Notes: Nirvana carried out “Coronary heart-Formed Field” and “Rape Me.” Each songs appeared on In Utero, which might enter the Billboard 200 at No. 1 within the concern dated Oct. 9. Slightly greater than six months after this look, Kurt Cobain took his personal life. Barkley appeared within the “Charles Barkley’s Large, Tall & Black Males’s Shops” sketch.
Season 20

Picture Credit score: NBCU Picture Financial institution/GI Date: Sept. 24, 1994
Host: Steve Martin
Musical visitor: Eric Clapton
Notes: Clapton carried out “I’m Tore Down” and “5 Lengthy Years.” Each songs appeared on From the Cradle, Clapton’s conventional blues album that may enter the Billboard 200 at No. 1 within the concern dated Oct. 1. On the finish of the present, Clapton sat in with the SNL Band to play the closing theme.
Season 21
Date: Sept. 30, 1995
Host: Mariel Hemingway
Musical visitor: Blues Traveler
Notes: As talked about in a sketch on the present, the unique musical visitor scheduled to seem on this episode was “The Artist Previously Generally known as Prince” – because the legendary performer was cumbersomely identified on the time. In his stead, Blues Traveler carried out the zesty “Run-Round,” a prime 10 hit on the Scorching 100, and “Hook,” a prime 30 hit. Each songs appeared on the album 4, which had reached its No. 8 peak on the Billboard 200 just a few weeks earlier (concern dated Sept. 9). Hemingway was the star of the short-lived primetime cleaning soap Central Park West.
Season 22
Date: Sept. 28, 1996
Host: Tom Hanks
Musical visitor: Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
Notes: Petty & the Heartbreakers carried out “Partitions (No. 3)” and an electrical model of “Angel Dream (No. 2)” The unique variations of each songs appeared on Songs and Music From She’s the One, which had debuted and peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard 200 in August. Hanks’ directorial debut, That Factor You Do!, opened the next week.
Season 23
Date: Sept. 27, 1997
Host: Sylvester Stallone
Musical visitor: Jamiroquai
Notes: Jamiroquai carried out “Alright,” a track from their debut album, Travelling With out Shifting. The album reached its No. 24 peak on the Billboard 200 on the chart dated Sept. 27.
Season 24
Date: Sept. 26, 1998
Host: Cameron Diaz
Musical visitor: Smashing Pumpkins
Notes: Smashing Pumpkins carried out “Good” from their album Adore, which had entered the Billboard 200 at No. 2 just a few months earlier (chart dated June 20). The band additionally appeared within the Roxbury Guys sketch. Jonathan Richman and Tommy Larkins, who carried out musical interludes in Diaz’s summer season box-office smash There’s One thing About Mary, made a cameo look.
Season 25
Date: Oct. 2, 1999
Host: Jerry Seinfeld
Musical visitor: David Bowie
Notes: Bowie carried out his traditional “Insurgent, Insurgent” (from Diamond Canines, which turned his first prime 5 album on the Billboard 200 in July 1974), and “Thursday’s Little one” (from his then-current album ‘Hours…, which might debut and peak at No. 47 on the chart dated Oct. 23). Seinfeld appeared in sketches that tweaked SNL’s Level-Counterpoint franchise from the Nineteen Seventies and in addition the jail cell setting of the finale of his landmark sitcom.
Season 26

Picture Credit score: Dana Edelson/NBCU Picture Financial institution/NBCUniversal by way of Getty Pictures by way of Getty Pictures Date: Oct. 7, 2000
Host: Rob Lowe
Musical visitor: Eminem
Notes: Eminem was the primary solo rapper to be the musical visitor on an SNL season-opener. He carried out “Stan” (with Dido) and “The Actual Slim Shady.” Each songs appeared on The Marshall Mathers LP, which had spent its first eight weeks on the Billboard 200 at No. 1 that spring and summer season. “The Actual Slim Shady” was Eminem’s first prime 10 hit on that chart. (It peaked at No. 4 in June.) The rap icon additionally appeared throughout Weekend Replace.
Season 27
Date: Sept. 29, 2001
Host: Reese Witherspoon
Musical visitor: Alicia Keys
Notes: This episode aired simply 18 days after the 9/11 terrorist assaults. Alicia Keys carried out “Fallin’” and “A Girl’s Value.” Each songs appeared on Keys’ debut album Songs in A Minor, which had entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1 in July and spent a complete of three weeks on prime. As well as, “Fallin’” topped the Scorching 100 for six consecutive weeks. “A Girl’s Value” additionally made the highest 10. Witherspoon was coming off her summer season box-office smash Legally Blonde. This episode marked the primary time that each the host and musical visitor of a SNL season-opener have been girls.
Season 28
Date: Oct. 5, 2002
Host: Matt Damon
Musical visitor: Bruce Springsteen & the E Road Band
Notes: Springsteen & the E Road Band carried out “Lonesome Day” with Soozie Tyrell, and “You’re Lacking.” Each songs appeared on Springsteen’s The Rising, which had spent its first two weeks on the Billboard 200 at No. 1 in August.
Season 29
Date: Oct. 4, 2003
Host: Jack Black
Musical visitor: John Mayer
Notes: Mayer carried out “Larger Than My Physique” and “Readability.” Each songs appeared on his album Heavier Issues, which had entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1 on the Sept. 27-dated chart. “Larger Than My Physique” cracked the highest 40 on the Scorching 100. Black’s hit movie Faculty of Rock opened the day earlier than this episode aired. Kyle Gass, Black’s associate in Tenacious D, additionally appeared on the present.
Season 30
Date: Oct. 2, 2004
Host: Ben Affleck
Musical visitor: Nelly
Notes: Nelly carried out “My Place” and “Na-NaNa-Na” with Jaheim. Each songs have been from his album Swimsuit, which entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1 within the concern dated Oct. 2. (One other Nelly album, Sweat, debuted at No. 2 that very same week.) “My Place” reached No. 4 on the Scorching 100.
Season 31

Picture Credit score: Dana Edelson/NBCU Picture Financial institution/GI Date: Oct. 1, 2005
Host: Steve Carrell
Musical visitor: Kanye West
Notes: West carried out a medley of “Gold Digger” and “Contact the Sky,” in addition to “Heard ‘Em Say” with Adam Levine. All three songs have been from West’s sophomore album Late Registration, which had spent its first two weeks on the Billboard 200 at No. 1 in September. “Gold Digger” logged 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Scorching 100. Carrell was additionally red-hot, with the summer season box-office smash The 40-Yr Previous Virgin and his sitcom The Workplace, which launched its second season on Sept. 20.
Season 32
Date: Sept. 30, 2006
Host: Dane Prepare dinner
Musical visitor: The Killers
Notes: The Killers carried out “When You Had been Younger” and “Bones.” Each songs appeared on their sophomore album Sam’s City, which had entered the Billboard 200 at No. 2 within the Oct. 21 concern. Lenny Pickett, Earl Gardner, and Steve Turre, members of the SNL Band, joined The Killers on “Bones.”
Season 33
Date: Sept. 29, 2007
Host: LeBron James
Musical visitor: Kanye West
Notes: West topped each the Billboard 200 and the Scorching 100 in the identical week he was the musical visitor on SNL’s season-opener. Now, that’s what you name sizzling! West carried out a medley of “Stronger” and “Good Life” and a medley of “Champion” and “All the things I Am.” All 4 songs appeared on his third album Commencement, which entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1 within the Sept. 29-dated concern. “Stronger” additionally topped the Scorching 100 that week. “Good Life” later additionally made the highest 10. West appeared in a 106 & Park sketch on the present.
Season 34
Date: Sept. 13, 2008
Host: Michael Phelps
Musical visitor: Lil Wayne
Notes: Lil Wayne carried out “Acquired Cash” and “Lollipop.” Each songs appeared on Tha Carter III, which had entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1 in June and spent a complete of three weeks on prime. “Lollipop” had topped the Scorching 100 for 5 nonconsecutive weeks within the spring. “Acquired Cash” additionally made the highest 10. Phelps’ mom made a cameo look within the Olympic champion’s opening monologue. Phelps additionally starred in “The Michael Phelps Food plan” sketch.
Season 35
Date: Sept. 26, 2009
Host: Megan Fox
Musical visitor: U2
Notes: U2 carried out “Breathe” and “Second of Give up” from their 2009 album No Line on the Horizon and “Ultraviolet (Mild My Approach)” from their 1991 traditional Achtung Child. Each albums had entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1. Fox was the feminine lead of the summer season box-office smash Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.
Season 36

Picture Credit score: Dana Edelson/NBCU Picture Financial institution/GI Date: Sept. 25, 2010
Host: Amy Poehler
Musical visitor: Katy Perry
Notes: Perry carried out “California Gurls” and “Teenage Dream”, highlights from her second Capitol album Teenage Dream, which had entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1 in within the concern dated Sept. 11. Each singles additionally topped the Scorching 100. Perry additionally appeared in the “Bronx Beat” sketch and an SNL Digital Brief. Poehler, then the star of Parks & Recreation and beforehand a SNL forged member from 2001-08, reprised her roles as Betty Caruso and Amber.
Season 37
Date: Sept. 24, 2011
Host: Alec Baldwin
Musical visitor: Radiohead
Notes: Radiohead carried out “Lotus Flower” and “Staircase.” “Lotus Flower” appeared on the band’s album The King of Limbs, which had peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 in April. “Staircase” was taken from the reside video The King of Limbs: Reside from the Basement (2011). Clive Deamer performed extra drums and percussion for each of Radiohead’s performances.
Season 38
Date: Sept. 15, 2012
Host: Seth MacFarlane
Musical visitor: Frank Ocean
Notes: Ocean carried out “Thinkin Bout You” and the one model of “Pyramids.” Each songs appeared on his album Channel Orange, which had entered the Billboard 200 at No. 2 in July. John Mayer, the 2003 musical visitor, performed guitar on each songs. MacFarlane was coming off the summer season box-office hit Ted. Within the opening monologue, MacFarlane dipped into his character voices from Household Man and American Dad!
Season 39
Date: Sept. 28, 2013
Host: Tina Fey
Musical visitor: Arcade Hearth
Notes: Arcade Hearth carried out “Reflektor” and “Afterlife.” Each songs appeared on the band’s album Reflektor, which might enter the Billboard 200 at No. 1 within the concern dated Nov. 16. Additionally, Arcade Hearth members Will Butler, Régine Chassagne and Win Butler appeared within the “New Forged Member or Arcade Hearth” sketch. Fey, then a star of 30 Rock, had been an SNL author and forged member from 1997–2006.
Season 40
Date: Sept. 27, 2014
Host: Chris Pratt
Musical visitor: Ariana Grande
Notes: Grande carried out “Break Free” and “Love Me Tougher” (the latter with The Weeknd). Each songs appeared on her album My All the things, which entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1 within the concern dated Sept. 13. Each songs additionally made the highest 10 on the Scorching 100. Grande additionally appeared as She-Ra within the “He-Man and Lion-O” sketch. Pratt was coming off the summer season box-office smash Guardians of the Galaxy. Pratt’s then-wife Anna Faris (then starring within the sitcom Mother) appeared throughout his opening monologue.
Season 41

Picture Credit score: Dana Edelson/NBCU Picture Financial institution/GI Date: Oct. 3, 2015
Host: Miley Cyrus
Musical visitor: Miley Cyrus
Notes: Cyrus carried out “Karen Don’t Be Unhappy” and “The Twinkle Tune.” Hillary Clinton launched Cyrus’ first musical efficiency. The Flaming Lips appeared as Cyrus’ backing band for that efficiency. Clinton appeared within the “Hillary Clinton Bar Discuss” sketch with Kate McKinnon (as Hillary’s alter-ego Val) and Darrell Hammond (as Invoice Clinton).
Season 42
Date: Oct. 1, 2016
Host: Margot Robbie
Musical visitor: The Weeknd
Notes: The Weeknd carried out “Starboy” and “False Alarm.” Each songs appeared on his Starboy album, which might enter the Billboard 200 at No. 1 within the concern dated Dec. 17, and would log 5 nonconsecutive weeks within the prime spot. “Starboy” additionally topped the Scorching 100 within the concern dated Jan. 7, 2017. The Weeknd additionally appeared on Weekend Replace throughout an inevitable bit titled “The Weeknd Replace.” Robbie was one of many stars of the summer season box-office smash Suicide Squad.
Season 43
Date: Sept. 30, 2017
Host: Ryan Gosling
Musical visitor: Jay-Z
Notes: Jay-Z carried out “Bam” with Damian Marley and “4:44.” Each songs appeared on his 4:44 album, which had topped the Billboard 200 for 2 weeks in the summertime. Gosling’s movie Blade Runner 2049 opened the next weekend. Gosling’s La La Land co-star, Emma Stone, appeared in his opening monologue.
Season 44
Date: Sept. 29, 2018
Host: Adam Driver
Musical visitor: Kanye West
Notes: Ariana Grande was set to be the musical visitor of this season-opener, for what would have been the second time in 5 years, however she withdrew, citing “emotional causes,” and was changed by West. The rapper carried out “I Love It” with Lil Pump and Adele Givens (the latter by way of prerecorded video), “We Acquired Love” with Teyana Taylor, and “Ghost City” with Child Cudi, 070 Shake and Ty Dolla Signal (on guitar). “Ghost City” was drawn from West’s album Ye, which had entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1 within the week ending June 16. Following the goodnights, West, carrying a Make America Nice Once more hat, went off-script along with his assist for Donald Trump. Driver starred within the acclaimed summer season box-office hit BlacKkKlansman.
Season 45
Date: Sept. 28, 2019
Host: Woody Harrelson
Musical visitor: Billie Eilish
Notes: Eilish carried out “Dangerous Man” and “I Love You” with her brother and inventive associate Finneas O’Connell. Each songs have been from her debut album When We All Fall Asleep, The place Do We Go?, which had entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1 in April and logged a complete of three weeks on prime. “Dangerous Man” additionally topped the Scorching 100 in August.
Season 46

Picture Credit score: Will Heath/NBC/NBCU Date: Oct. 3, 2020
Host: Chris Rock
Musical visitor: Megan Thee Stallion
Notes: Megan Thee Stallion turned the primary feminine rapper to function musical visitor on an SNL season-opener. She carried out “Savage” with pre-recorded vocals from Beyoncé, Malcolm X and Tamika Mallory, and “Don’t Cease” with Younger Thug. The “Savage” remix had topped the Scorching 100 in Might. Each songs can be featured on Megan’s album Good Information, which might debut and peak at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 within the Dec. 5 concern. Megan additionally appeared within the pre-recorded “Backside of Your Face” and “NBA Bubble Draft” sketches. Rock was a SNL forged member from 1990-93.
Season 47
Date: Oct. 2, 2021
Host: Owen Wilson
Musical visitor: Kacey Musgraves
Notes: Musgraves was the primary nation or nation crossover artist to be the musical visitor on a SNL season-opener. She carried out “Justified” and “Digicam Roll” from her album Star-Crossed, which entered the Billboard 200 at No. 3 within the concern dated Sept. 25. Musgraves carried out “Justified” carrying solely a pair of trainers, whereas seated on a stool cross-legged enjoying an acoustic guitar. It was the primary time within the present’s historical past {that a} musical visitor carried out nude on stage in entrance of the viewers – although a guitar strap and Musgraves’ hair saved issues pretty PG. The staging was impressed by a scene in Forrest Gump during which Robin Wright’s character performs within the nude.
Season 48
Date: Oct. 1, 2022
Host: Miles Teller
Musical visitor: Kendrick Lamar
Notes: Lamar carried out a medley of “Wealthy Spirit” and “N95” and later within the present, “Father Time” (that includes Sampha). All three songs are from his fifth studio album, Mr. Morale & the Large Steppers, which entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1 in Might. Lamar was the eighth rap star to function a season-opening musical visitor, following Public Enemy, Eminem, Nelly, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z and Megan Thee Stallion. Teller co-starred in Prime Gun: Maverick, the highest box-office hit of 2022.
Season 49
Date: Oct. 14, 2023
Host: Pete Davidson
Musical visitor: Ice Spice
Notes: Ice Spice was the second girl rapper, following Megan Thee Stallion, to function a season-opening musical visitor. She carried out “In Ha Temper” and “Fairly Lady” with Rema. Davidson was the fifth former forged member to return as host, following Chevy Chase (1982), Amy Poehler (2010), Tina Fey (2013) and Chris Rock (2020). (Observe: Alec Baldwin, who hosted the 2011 season opener, has by no means been a full-fledged forged member, although he has served as visitor host 17 occasions, extra usually than anybody else.) In lieu of a chilly open, Davidson shared reflections on the 2023 Hamas assault on Israel, which occurred one week earlier. After Weekend Replace, a title card inspired viewers to donate to the American Crimson Cross and the Worldwide Rescue Committee.
Season 50
Date: Sept. 28, 2024
Host: Jean Good
Musical visitor: Jelly Roll
Notes: Jelly Roll was the second nation or nation crossover artist to be the musical visitor on a SNL season-opener, following Kacey Musgraves. The looks got here two weeks earlier than the Oct. 11 launch of Fantastically Damaged, which entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1. Jelly carried out “Liar” and “Successful Streak.” Hannah Einbinder, daughter of authentic Not Prepared for Primetime Participant Laraine Newman (in addition to Good’s co-star on Hacks), joined Good in introducing Jelly for the primary track. Good sang Cole Porter’s 1930 chestnut “I Occur to Like New York” in her opening monologue.
Season 51
Date: Oct. 4, 2025
Host: Dangerous Bunny
Musical visitor: Doja Cat
Notes: The artist born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio was having one other monster yr: After releasing his sixth solo album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, in January 2025, he launched an bold and vastly profitable 30-date residency in Puerto Rico, which was so huge that it boosted the island’s economic system, and attracted quite a few high-profile company. He received three Grammys, together with album of the yr and greatest música urbana albumat the Grammys on Feb. 1, 2026, making historical past as DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS turned the primary Spanish-language album to win the topprize. Bunny headlined the 2026 Apple Music Tremendous Bowl LX Halftime Present one week later at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Doja Cat carried out “Aaahh Males!” and “Attractive” on SNL.
Season 52
Date: Sept. 26, 2026
Host: Jalen Brunson
Musical visitor: KATSEYE
Notes: KATSEYE has logged six prime 40 hits on the Billboard Scorching 100, topped by “Gabriela,” which reached No. 21. They acquired two Grammy nods for the ceremony in February 2026: greatest new artist and greatest pop duo/group efficiency for “Gabriela.” KATSEYE would be the first all-female group to be the musical visitor on a season-opening episode of SNL.
Brunson, 2026 NBA Finals MVP and New York Knicks star level guard, would be the third star basketball participant to host a season-opener, following Charles Barkley (1993) and LeBron James (2007). He’s the fourth athlete to get the gig, following these three gamers and swimmer Michael Phelps (2008).










