32 Stars Who Killed It Hosting and Singing on SNL

One significant accolade a public figure can earn is to either be the host of Saturday Night Live or perform musically as a guest. However, not many have managed to accomplish both in a single night. Surprisingly, quite a number of individuals have done so. To verify this, simply peruse the list of exceptional SNL hosts who also delivered outstanding musical performances during their episodes (or multiple episodes).

Timothée Chalamet

Following his Academy Award nomination in 2025 for portraying Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown“, Timothée Chalamet honored the folk musician in an amusing manner. The actor made an appearance on SNL for his third time as a host, but this was his debut as a musical guest. He sang covers of Dylan’s “Outlaw Blues,” “Three Angels,” and “Tomorrow Is a Long Time.

Lady Gaga

In 2013, before she became a celebrated actor with a Golden Globe win on “American Horror Story” and an Oscar nomination for “A Star is Born”, Lady Gaga (born Stefani Germanotta) performed dual roles at Studio 8H. She delivered heartfelt renditions of “Do What U Want” and “Gypsy”, and also starred in some of the most memorable “SNL” sketches involving a renowned musician, which were iconic due to her ability to laugh at herself by participating in self-deprecating humor.

Mick Jagger

Previously sharing the stage with The Rolling Stones bandmates in 1972, Mick Jagger later graced the stage of Saturday Night Live to close out the 37th season on his own. For his renditions of timeless hits such as “The Last Time” and “It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll (But I Like It),” the iconic lead vocalist was joined by Arcade Fire, Foo Fighters, and Jeff Beck.

Donald Glover

Donald Glover, also known as Childish Gambino, kicked off his Season 43 episode of Saturday Night Live by playfully singing about his ability to accomplish anything. Yet, he not only managed to live up to this claim with his side-splitting acting and captivating musical performances but even exceeded expectations. This particular episode is renowned for the premiere of Glover’s smash hit single, “This is America.

Stevie Wonder

A standout moment from Stevie Wonder’s Season 8 SNL performance was when he teamed up with Eddie Murphy, who had previously portrayed him, in a sketch. In the scene, Murphy played an aspiring Stevie Wonder impersonator trying to refine his impression with Wonder’s help. Additionally, that evening, the multiple Grammy-winning artist performed “Overjoyed,” which he titled “Go Home.

Ariana Grande

For her second stint on SNL during Season 41, Ariana Grande took on multiple roles in an impressive fashion. Apart from singing “Dangerous Woman” and “Be Alright” amidst skits, she also showcased her exceptional talent for musical impressions by portraying a Tidal intern who had to step up when the music streaming service encountered a power outage.

Elton John

Elton John made his debut on Saturday Night Live as a musical guest in 1982, during an episode hosted by fellow artist Johnny Cash. He returned to the show after a gap of 29 years, not only performing but also hosting the event, alongside Leon Russell for songs from their album, “The Union.” That night was particularly glamorous at Studio 8H, with special appearances by Carmelo Anthony, Will Forte, Tom Hanks, and Jake Gyllenhaal, who were all part of the stellar lineup.

Miley Cyrus

Twice on Saturday Night Live, Miley Cyrus enjoyed being in a unique position where she could blend her past and present. In Season 39, she playfully satirized her VMAs performance with Robin Thicke and sang “Wrecking Ball” and “We Can’t Stop”. Two years after that, she teamed up with The Flaming Lips to perform “Karen Don’t Be Sad”, following an introduction by special guest Hillary Clinton.

Justin Timberlake

Justin Timberlake is eligible to enter the SNL Five-Timers Club due to both his hosting and musical performances. Known for his earlier stint with N*SYNC, he first appeared on the show on October 11, 2003, marking the start of several subsequent appearances. The talented pop star and actor has graced SNL with some of its most memorable musical skits, including three Digital Shorts as a raucous R&B duo alongside Andy Samberg.

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift has made several visits to Studio 8H over the years, earning herself numerous musical guest spots and memorable Saturday Night Live appearances since rising to global fame. In Season 35 alone, she graced the stage twice – first as a musical performer singing “You Belong With Me” and “Untouchable,” and for the very first time as the show’s host. During this stint, she starred in a humorous spoof trailer for a Twilight knockoff titled Firelight, as well as other hilarious sketches.

Paul Simon

Among all performers on Saturday Night Live (SNL), Paul Simon stands out as the one who has served both as host and musical guest in the most instances. Interestingly, he was the initial artist to fulfill this dual role during SNL’s second episode, a feat he repeated three more times. As a singer-songwriter, Paul Simon was also the inaugural member of the Five-Timers Club, achieving this milestone solely through his musical performances.

Chance The Rapper

Beyond his reputation as an inventive hip-hop artist, Chance the Rapper demonstrated his acting abilities and exceptional comedic sense during his multiple stints hosting SNL. Specifically, in Season 45, he not only hosted but also served as the musical guest. During this appearance, he teamed up with Megan Thee Stallion for a rendition of “Handsome.

Kris Kristofferson

In July 1976, prior to co-starring in “A Star is Born” with Barbra Streisand, singer and actor Kris Kristofferson also headlined on Saturday Night Live. During this performance, he appeared alongside his wife Rita Coolidge for the song “Eddie the Eunuch”. Later in the show, he performed “I’ve Got a Life of My Own” solo.

Debbie Harry

On Valentine’s Day during the sixth season of Saturday Night Live, Debbie Harry – the lead singer of Blondie – not only hosted the show but also gave a solo performance. During the breaks between skits, she sang “Love TKO” and “Come Back Jonee”. Furthermore, she introduced Funky 4 + 1 as they performed “That’s The Joint”, marking it as the first rap song to be performed on live TV that evening.

Garth Brooks

In the 23rd season of Saturday Night Live, Garth Brooks took on dual roles as host and musical performer. During this time, he starred in a sketch where he fell for Chris Kattan’s character, Mango. A year later, the country music artist reappeared to handle both duties again, but during his musical performances, he portrayed his rock star persona, Chris Gaines.

Dolly Parton

In her one and only appearance on Saturday Night Live, Dolly Parton took the stage as host and performer during Season 14. As a beloved icon in country music, she was featured in several comical skits that humorously addressed her famous bust size. Additionally, she sang a few songs from her 1989 album, “White Limozeen.”

Dolly Parton graced the SNL stage for just one episode in Season 14, where she played host and performer. Known for her iconic status in country music, she participated in numerous comedic sketches that joked about her well-known figure, while also performing numbers from her album “White Limozeen,” which was released in 1989.

Willie Nelson

1987-02-21 saw Willie Nelson making his second musical guest appearance and first hosting stint on Saturday Night Live. The iconic “outlaw country” figure, who had dabbled in acting prior to this and continued to do so afterward, proved an ideal choice for the role. During the show, he even teamed up with then-cast member Victoria Jackson for a song performance.

Drake

Prior to achieving immense success as a rap artist, Aubrey Graham (who later became known as Drake) was an actor, predominantly recognized for his leading role in the Canadian teen drama series, “Degrassi: The Next Generation.” He demonstrated that his acting skills were still sharp when he appeared as a musical guest in 2011 and subsequently returned to Saturday Night Live (SNL) for dual duties in 2014 and later in 2016.

Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish, born in the 21st century, made history as the first host on SNL from that generation when she appeared during the Season 47 Christmas episode. Her performance garnered praise, although she struggled to keep a straight face in some skits. The multi-award winner (Grammy and Oscar) was introduced by her parents before she and her brother Finneas performed “Happier Than Ever.” They later returned to perform “Male Fantasy.

Halsey

Prior to lending my voice to “Sing 2” and starring in the A24 horror film “MaXXXine”, I was known more for my music than acting. However, I surprised everyone by delivering an impressive hosting stint on Saturday Night Live during Season 44. As a longtime fan of the show, I managed to be both a riot in skits and leave audiences spellbound with my musical performances, like the time I painted a portrait while singing “Eastside.

Ray Charles

Prior to gracing the screen in what is widely regarded as the top film adaptation of an SNL character (The Blues Brothers from 1980), Ray Charles first appeared on the show during its third season’s fifth episode. His extraordinary musical talent was evident in both the skits and truly sparkled during his renditions of “I Can See Clearly Now,” “What I’d Say,” “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning,” and “I Can’t Stop Loving You.

Olivia Newton-John

After becoming globally recognized for portraying Sandy in Grease, it was clear that Olivia Newton-John would excel as both host and musical guest on SNL. In fact, the Australian performer made an appearance during the Season 7 finale, where she starred in a satirical reenactment of the 1978 film classic, while also singing songs from her popular album, Physical.

Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa’s hosting stint during SNL‘s third season is often remembered as a flop, primarily because he frequently deviated from the scripted material. This is believed to be the reason behind his absence from future episodes. Nevertheless, his renditions of “Dancin’ Fool,” “The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing,” and “Rollo” with the Mothers of Invention remain notable highlights from that particular night.

Quincy Jones

During the 15th season of Saturday Night Live, famed music producer Quincy Jones graced the stage both as host and musical guest. Interestingly, he wasn’t the show’s only musician that night. Joining him were Take 6, Tevin Campbell, Andrae Crouch, Sandra Crouch, Kool Moe Dee, Big Daddy Kane, Melle Mel, Quincy D III, Siedah Garrett, and Al Jarreau, who all performed “Back On The Block,” “The Verb To Be,” and “Wee B. Dooinit” together.

Sting

Sting has earned entry into the Five-Timers Club due to his multiple appearances on SNL as the musical guest, one of which was also when he served as the show’s host during Season 16. The former lead singer of The Police initially hosted the program only once, but later returned in 1997 to host it again, this time with Veruca Salt as the musical guest.

Harry Styles

In November of 2019, Harry Styles stepped up to host Saturday Night Live for the first time. Notably, he also became a member of the Five-Timers Club that evening, having performed as a musical guest on five separate occasions. Prior to this, Styles had graced the SNL stage four times with his boy band One Direction and once more in 2017 as a solo artist.

Gary Busey

After earning an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Buddy Holly, the rock ‘n roll legend, in the 1978 film “The Buddy Holly Story“, Gary Busey had a single stint as the host on SNL. During this episode, he was among three musical guests, with Gregory Hines and Eubie Blake being the other two performers.

Bruno Mars

Prior to hosting Season 38 of SNL, Bruno Mars hadn’t acted professionally before (although he did play a young Elvis in Honeymoon in Vegas). However, his comedic acting skills were impressive in an episode that also featured Tom Hanks making a cameo to introduce Bruno’s performance of “Locked Out of Heaven.

Desi Arnaz

During his time playing Ricky Ricardo in the iconic TV show, “I Love Lucy”, Desi Arnaz frequently blended music and comedy. Given this background, it’s reasonable to assume that taking on both hosting and musical roles on Saturday Night Live (SNL), alongside his son, Desi Arnaz Jr., would have been a natural fit for the talented performer who hailed from Cuba.

Lizzo

In Lizzo’s second stint on Saturday Night Live (SNL), she served both as the musical guest and the host for the first time. During her Season 47 episode, she demonstrated an innate aptitude for the role, particularly in a sketch where she played a flutist who couldn’t hit a note without synchronous twerking. However, she also had moments of genuine laughter, making these instances endearing.

Art Garfunkel

On March 11, 1978, Art Garfunkel embarked on a solo journey, taking the stage both as host and musical performer. Among his own pieces like “All I Know,” “Scarborough Fair,” and “Crying in My Sleep”, he collaborated with Stephen Bishop on “Wonderful World”.

Lily Tomlin

In her debut as host on the sixth episode of the first season of SNL, comedy legend Lily Tomlin not only took charge but also served as the musical act, singing “St. James Infirmary” alongside Howard Shore & the All Nurse Band. A moment that might cause controversy today if it were remembered, Tomlin reappeared in Season 8 to handle both hosting and musical duties; however, for her performances, she used blackface to portray a male R&B singer character named Pervis Hawkins.

2025-01-29 22:09