Saturday Night LiveAnnounces Season 50 Lineup Including Jean Smart, Ariana Grande and Chappell Roan

Mar. 15, 2025

Jean Smart (left), Ariana Grande (center) and Chappell Roan.Photo:Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty; Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic; Jeff Kravitz/Getty

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty; Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic; Jeff Kravitz/Getty

Saturday Night Live’s landmark 50th season finally has some faces in its lineup!

On Sept. 18, NBC announced the hosts and musical guests for the first five episodes of the late-night sketch comedy show’s upcoming season, with two newcomers opening the season.

Jean Smartis kicking off the season premiere on Saturday, Sept. 28 as host alongside musical guestJelly Roll.

“SO EXCITED!!! Bucket list!” Smart, 73, wrote in aposton Instagram as she shared the news.

Jelly Roll, 39, was equally elated to be announcing hisSNLdebut, as he wrote in apost, “The premiere of the 50th season ofSNL. BRB going to cry for a few hours and call every family member I have. Bringing therapeutic music to my favorite show ever. God is Good.”

Jean Smart (left); Jelly Roll.Kevin Mazur/Getty; Frazer Harrison/Getty

Kevin Mazur/Getty; Frazer Harrison/Getty

Coldplaywill be the musical guest for Bargatze’s show on Oct. 5, marking the band’s eighth time performing onSNL.

Nate Bargatze (left); Coldplay.Jason Kempin/Getty; Shlomi Pinto/Getty

Jason Kempin/Getty; Shlomi Pinto/Getty

Ariana Grandewill take the helm for the second time as a host for the season’s third episode on Oct. 12. Grande, 31, lastappeared onSNLin April as the musical guestfollowing the release of her albumEternal Sunshine, but this time, she will not be performing, as the legendaryStevie Nicksis slated to be the musical guest.

“See you October 12th @ncbsnl ✨ ,” Nicks, 76, wrote in aposton X (formerly Twitter).

Ariana Grande (left) and Stevie Nicks.Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty; Kevin Mazur/Getty

Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty; Kevin Mazur/Getty

In an Instagrampostannouncing the show, Eilish, 22, wrote, “Coming baaaaack ;) see u october 19thSNL💋💋.”

Michael Keaton (left); Billie Eilish.Marilla Sicilia/Archivio Marilla Sicilia/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty; Sarah Morris/WireImage

Marilla Sicilia/Archivio Marilla Sicilia/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty; Sarah Morris/WireImage

The Nov. 2 show is the final pairingSNLannounced, and will see former cast memberJohn Mulaneyhost alongsideChappell Roan, who will make herSNLdebut as a musical guest.

“This is the first I’m hearing of this,” Mulaney, 42, wrote in aposton X (formerly Twitter) as he shared that he’ll return for his sixth time hosting.

John Mulaney (left); Chappell Roan.Amy Sussman/Getty; Kevin Mazur/Getty

Amy Sussman/Getty; Kevin Mazur/Getty

Earlier this month,SNLannounced the cast for the landmark season, which included the addition of three new comedians following three cast member’s exits. Returning cast membersMarcello Hernandez, Michael Longfellow andDevon Walkerwere also promoted to the main cast after two years each as featured players.Ahead of the new season,Punkie Johnson, Chloe Troast and Molly Kearney have all stepped away, while Ashley Padilla, Emil Wakim and Jane Wickline have been added to the sketch comedy show’s slate.

Johnson, 39, initially shared the news in avideoposted on Instagram on Aug. 1, as she told fans she “will not be returning toSNLfor the 50th [season],” but clarified thatthere is “no bad blood” or “bridges burned.”

She made history when she was promoted to a regular cast member in 2022 as the show’s second openly queer Black woman. She originally joined SNL in 2020 as a featured player.

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The following day,Kearney announced their departure from the showonInstagram, as they reflected on an “amazing 2 seasons” that were “a dream come true.”

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Saturday Night Liveseason 50 premieres Sept. 28 at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

source: people.com