As we approach the 1,000the episode of Saturday Night Live, we can get a broad picture of the great moments for the series.
Starting with the October 11, 1975 episode, Saturday Night Live always welcomed a music guest in every show. Sometimes two musical guests. Music should be as much a part of SNL’s as the comedy. Though that’s not always the case.
Here at SNL Rankings, we rank things. No surprise. Among our rankings are the musical performances. While music taste is subjective, we still accepted the challenge to rank every performance.
In just under 1,000 episodes, there have been 137 musical guests who have received an A or A- for their appearance on SNL. Only two performances rank as an A+. Our grading scale is tough. But we like it that way.
We think every one of the musical guests who got at least an A, were fantastic. Every week we look forward to the music on SNL as much as we do a funny cold open, or a wacky character on Weekend Update.
Facts about the top-ranked musical guests in SNL history
- Bill Withers was the first musical guest to get an A: in Episode 10 of Season 1 on January 17, 1976.
- Joe Cocker’s appearance in Season 2 is considered a masterful moment in the early years of the show. He performed “You Are So Beautiful” and “Feelin’ Alright” in an episode hosted by Eric Idle.
- Paul Simon had two iconic performances in Season 2: in Episode 8 with George Harrison; and in Episode 14 solo.
- On April 22, 1978, for the first and only time, members of the cast were the musical guest. Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi fronted the The Blues Brothers in that episode, which is considered among the best in franchise history.
- The first season where there was not a single A handed out to a musical guest was SNL Season 23. It has happened a few times since.
- The most recent A’s were Olivia Dean in Episode 6 in Season 51. Last season in Season 50, Lady Gaga and Tate McRae received high marks.
Only perfect grades for SNL musical guests
Only twice have we handed out an A+. The first time was for the January 11, 1992 episode in Season 17 when Nirvana performed in Studio 8H. The intense growling vocals of front man Kurt Cobain and the amazing sound that exploded from the three-piece grunge band announced a new era in rock and roll.
The other A+ music performer in SNL history, according to SNL Rankings experts was Lady Gaga, for her May 21, 2011 performance. It was Season 22, the early stages of what may be considered a third golden era of SNL. But that night, laughs were secondary to Lady’s amazing vocals.
The list of musical guests to receive an A multiple times is short:
- Adele
- Aerosmith
- Aretha Franklin
- Beyoncé
- Billie Eilish
- Billy Joel
- Coldplay
- Dave Matthews Band
- Edie Brickell (3)
- Elvis Costello
- Eminem (6)
- Halsey (4)
- Jack White (3)
- Lady Gaga (4)
- Miley Cyrus (4)
- Paul Simon (6)
- Taylor Swift (5)
