Saturday Night Live announces musical guests for first five shows of season 50

If you have always loved Saturday Night Live then good for you. There have been some rough seasons. Thankfully, most of the comedians involved in recent years have been quite good.

The musical guests have been at times fantastic as well. Boygenius was spectacular in late 2023, for instance. Plus, while SNL does ask some poppier artists to be on, the show still takes chances.

The first five hosts and musical guests have been announced for season 50. They are as follows. Just keep with the show a bit because episodes four and five promise to be excellent.

First five musical guests of Saturday Night Live season 50 have been announced

September 28

• Host: Jean Smart
• Musical guest: Jelly Roll

Personally., I am not sure what I think of Jelly Roll but fellow Audio Phix writer Jonathan Eig likes him quite a bit. Jon has better taste than I do so this episode is likely one you need to catch to see Jelly Roll's country rap or whatever he does. Jon thinks it's worth it so it must be.

October 5

• Host: Nate Bargatze
• Musical guest: Coldplay

Coldplay? What the heck? They have not been relevant for years, right? Or, maybe I should check. They could have a new album coming out. And, well...yep. The band has a new album called Moon Music landing October 4.

October 12

• Host: Ariana Grande
• Musical guest: Stevie Nicks

I wasn't going to be fooled again! Nicks has a sort of new album coming out in October, just like Coldplay. Her record is called 24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault. This album appears to be re-recorded tunes that Nicks did originally between 1969 and 1987. In other words - and say it with me, kids - money grab!

October 19

• Host: Michael Keaton
• Musical guest: Billie Eilish

So throw out the first three shows of the year. No offense to Bargatze who should be amazing, but the pairing of this week and the next is brilliant. Keaton is a good enough actor and deadpan enough comedian to be a perfect fit once again (he has hosted before).

Eilish has been on a bunch of times before so neither Keaton or Eilish should feel overly nervous which should make for a perfect episode.

November 2

• Host: John Mulaney
• Musical guest: Chappell Roan

Mulaney has hosted before too and been excellent. Roan has not been on but one gets the feeling she will somehow steal the show. The expectation is that she will be genius as nearly everything she does. If the first five episodes are any indication, SNL 50 is going to be pretty fantastic.

More music news and analysis: