Cher, Ariana Grande, and Lily Allen to Headline Saturday Night Live’s December Lineup
The iconic Cher is set to grace the stage of Saturday Night Live as a musical guest for the frist time in nearly 40 years, capping off a stellar year for the long-running sketch comedy show.
Saturday Night Live has announced a powerhouse lineup of hosts and musical guests to close out its current season. Ariana Grande, Josh O’Connor, and Melissa McCarthy will take on hosting duties in December, accompanied by musical performances from Cher, Lily Allen, and Dijon.
Melissa McCarthy will kick off the December episodes on December 6, with singer-songwriter Dijon as the musical guest. Following her, Lily Allen will return to the SNL stage on December 13, alongside first-time host Josh O’Connor. Allen, who recently released her critically acclaimed album West End Girl, previously appeared as a musical guest in 2007.According to a review from NME, the album is “a vicious, vulnerable and victorious comeback,” notably poignant as it was recorded following the end of her marriage to Stranger Things star David Harbour.
Ariana Grande, promoting her upcoming film Wicked: For Good which releases on November 21, will host the season’s final episode on December 20.This marks Grande’s third time hosting SNL; she last appeared in 2024 with Stevie Nicks as her musical guest. This time, she’ll share the stage with the legendary Cher, who last performed on SNL in 1987.Cher previously performed her hit “If I could Turn Back Time” at the SNL 50 concert in February, signaling a full-circle moment for the enduring artist.
Season 51 of Saturday Night Live premiered on NBC and Peacock on October 24, already featuring a diverse range of talent including hosts Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter (who also served as her own musical guest), and Amy Poehler. Other musical guests this season have included Doja Cat, Olivia Dean, and Sombr. Olivia Dean made her SNL debut on November 15, performing “Man I Need” and “Let Alone The One You Love” from her album The Art Of Loving.
Beyond the main stage, SNL continues to generate buzz through its digital content. glen Powell, after hosting an episode, shared a clip of a childhood spoof music video featuring Fall Out Boy’s “Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down,” prompting the band to inquire about directing their next video.
Though, not all performances have been without controversy. Sabrina Carpenter’s performance of “Nobody’s Son” last month drew criticism from fellow singer Rina sawayama, who cited “cultural insensitivity.” Carpenter addressed the ensuing furore surrounding the cover of her album Man’s Best Friend with characteristic humor,stating,”Everyone thinks of me as this horndog pop star,but there’s realy so much more to me. I’m not just horny … I’m also turned on. And I’m sexually charged. And I love to read. My favourite book is the encyclopaedia, it’s so big, and it’s hard, and okay seriously, sorry.”
The upcoming December episodes promise a dynamic close to the season, blending established icons like Cher with contemporary stars like Grande and Allen, solidifying saturday Night Live’s continued relevance in the ever-evolving landscape of entertainment.
Did you know?–Saturday Night Live debuted on October 11, 1975, originally titled “NBC’s Saturday Night.” The show has won 96 Primetime Emmy Awards, the most for any comedy series.
