The Best SNL Musical Guests Who Have Also Hosted
Getting to host or be the musical guest on Saturday Night Live is quite the honor. There have been hundreds of SNL hosts and musical guests over the seasons, and out of those only a small percentage of folks have been chosen to host multiple times or return for an encore. But some folks have such talent that they've been asked to not only host SNL but also be the musical guest.
Some people who have been both hosts and musical guests were one-and-dones, hosting the same episode they played songs on. Other celebrities have been back multiple times in either capacity. Sting and Justin Timberlake have been guests on Saturday Night Live six times each, as hosts, musical guests, and hosting musical guests. The artists who come close, Snoop Dog and Mick Jagger, have only reached four times each. The number of times SNL has had these artists return isn't necessarily indicative of who is the best celebrity who has hosted and been the musical guest. Dolly Parton and Stevie Wonder are both some of the most respected talents in their genres, and they brought that skill with them to SNL.
Which artists have done the duties of host and musical guest the best? Vote based on their overall performance across all appearances.
Host: April 15, 1989
Musical Guest: April 15, 1989Host: five episodes - October 11, 2003; December 16, 2006; May 9, 2009; May 21, 2011; March 9, 2013
Musical Guest: four episodes - October 11, 2003; December 16, 2006; March 9, 2013; December 21, 2013Host: November 16, 2019
Musical Guest: November 16, 2019Host: April 2, 2011
Musical Guest: two episodes - April 17, 1982; April 2, 2011Host: October 20, 2012
Musical Guest: four episodes - October 9, 2010; October 20, 2012; November 22, 2014; October 15, 2016Host: November 16, 2013
Musical Guest: four episodes - October 3, 2009; May 21, 2011; November 16, 2013; October 22, 2016Host: November 7, 2009
Musical Guest: January 10, 2009; November 7, 2009; November 11, 2017Host: March 12, 2016
Musical Guest: two episodes - September 27, 2014; March 12, 2016Host: three episodes - November 22, 1975; September 18, 1976; January 22, 1983
Musical Guest: two episodes - November 22, 1975; January 22, 1983Host: February 21, 1987
Musical Guest: three episodes - December 10, 1977; February 21, 1987; May 15, 1993Host: two episodes - May 13, 2000; February 2, 2002
Musical Guest: three episodes - May 13, 2000; February 2, 2002; October 18, 2003Host: two episodes - March 8, 2003; October 9, 2004
Musical Guest: October 9, 2004- 13
Host: two episodes - January 19, 1991; March 15, 1997
Musical Guest: five episodes - October 17, 1987; January 19, 1991; February 20, 1993; February 24, 1996; November 20, 1999 Host: May 19, 2012
Musical Guest: four episodes - December 16, 1978; February 6, 1993; December 8, 2001; May 19, 2012Host: two episodes - February 10, 2001; February 27, 2010
Musical Guest: three episodes - February 5, 2000; February 10, 2001; February 27, 2010Host: May 7, 1983
Musical Guest: May 7, 1983Host: February 21, 2004
Musical Guest: three episodes - April 8, 2000; March 15, 2003; November 11, 2006Host: March 11, 1978
Musical Guest: October 18, 1975Host: February 14, 1981
Musical Guest: two episodes - February 14, 1981; January 24, 1987- 20
Host: November 9, 1985
Musical Guest: January 16, 1993 - 21
Host: two episodes - January 18, 2014; May 14, 2016
Musical Guest: three episodes - October 15, 2011; January 18, 2014; May 14, 2016 Host: two episodes - February 28, 1998; November 13, 1999
Musical Guest: two episodes - March 14, 1992; February 28, 1998Host: October 21, 1978
Musical Guest: two episodes - December 11, 1976; October 21, 1978Host: November 12, 1977
Musical Guest: November 12, 1977Host: two episodes - October 12, 2019, November 18, 2017
Musical Guest: three episodes - October 12, 2019, December 12, 2015; December 17, 2016- 26
Host: February 9, 2019
Musical Guest: January 13, 2018; February 9, 2019 Host: May 22, 1982
Musical Guest: May 22, 1982- 28
Desi Arnaz
Host: February 21, 1976
Musical Guest: February 21, 1976 Host: May 8, 2004
Musical Guest: three episodes - March 19, 1994; January 18, 1997; October 23, 1999Host: January 24, 2015
Musical Guest: January 24, 2015Host: April 10, 2004
Musical Guest: two episodes - May 14, 1994; April 10, 2004Host: December 7, 1991
Musical Guest: December 7, 1991- 33
Host: November 18, 2006
Musical Guest: three times - January 22, 2005; November 18, 2006; November 22, 2008 Host: February 9, 2013
Musical Guest: two episodes - April 10, 2010; February 9, 2013Host: March 10, 1979
Musical Guest: March 10, 1979
