Every 'SNL' season 49 host and musical guest (2025)

Following a season cut short do to a strike, Saturday Night Live returned to form for season 49.

The legendary NBC sketch show came back for the new season on Oct. 14 with alum Pete Davidson finally getting his turn as host after his May return was canceled when the show went dark due to the writers' strike. (SNL was not impacted by the actors' strike, which was ongoing during the new season's first few episodes, as it operates under a different contract.)

The show's entire cast returned for season 49, with James Austin Johnson and Sarah Sherman promoted from featured players to repertory players, and added newcomer Chloe Troast.

The season featured other returning alums like Kristen Wiig, new Five-Timers Club members (which also included Kristen Wiig), and stars who performed double duty as host and musical guest (nope, not Kristen Wiig). Jake Gyllenhaal is set to host the season 49 finale on May 18 with musical guest Sabrina Carpenter. Read on to see everyone else who hosted this season and our recaps of each episode.

The SNL season 49 finale airs live Saturday, May 18 at 11:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. PT on NBC and Peacock.

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May 18, 2024: Host Jake Gyllenhaal with musical guest Sabrina Carpenter

Returning for his third time fronting the show, Jake Gyllenhaal will host the SNL season 49 finale. He'll be joined by Sabrina Carpenter. The Girl Meets World actress and "Espresso" singer is making her musical guest debut, fresh off a stint on the Coachella main stage.

May 11, 2024: Host Maya Rudolph with musical guest Vampire Weekend

Emmy-winning SNL alum Maya Rudolph returned to host for the third time on May 11. The Loot star was joined by Vampire Weekend in the band's fourth stint as musical guest. It was the show's annual Mother's Day episode, which meant cast members' moms got to sweetly — and awkwardly — attempt to read jokes off cue cards, but we also got a gagworthy musical monologue in which Rudolph fully embraced her Mother status.

Watch Rudolph Mother us all in her monologue below, and read our full episode 19 recap.

May 4, 2024: Host and musical guest Dua Lipa

Continuing the Barbie-heavy season, "Dance the Night" singer Dua Lipa performed double duty as host and musical guest on May 4. It was her first time hosting SNL and third time as musical guest. The show took on the ongoing rap beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, celebs at the Meta Gala, and featured a surprise cameo by Jerry Seinfeld on "Weekend Update."

Watch Lipa's monologue below, and read our full episode 18 recap.

April 13, 2024: Host Ryan Gosling with musical guest Chris Stapleton

Fresh off his epic Oscars performance of "I'm Just Ken," Ryan Goslinghosted SNL for his third time on April 13. His Barbie costar Kate McKinnon returned to reprise her Ms. Rafferty character in the cold open. He was also joined by musical guest Chris Stapleton, also making his third round on the show.

Watch Gosling's monologue, including an appearance from his his Fall Guy costar Emily Blunt, below, and read our full episode 17 recap.

April 6, 2024: Host Kristen Wiig with musical guest Raye

SNL all-star Kristen Wiig returned for her fifth hosting stint on April 6 to claim her Five-Timers Club jacket, presented by fellow member Paul Rudd, and future hopefuls Martin Short, Will Forte, Jon Hamm, Matt Damon, Fred Armisen, and Ryan Gosling. BRIT award-winning artist Raye brought the house down as musical guest with two soulful performances one week before making her Coachella debut.

Watch Wiig's cameo-heavy monologue below, and read our full episode 16 recap.

March 30, 2024: Host Ramy Youssef with musical guest Travis Scott

Stand-up comic and Golden Globe-winning Ramy star Ramy Youssef made his SNL debut on March 30, nearly four months after his Poor Things costar Emma Stone's latest hosting stint. He was joined by musical guest Travis Scott, who last performed on the show back in 2018.

Watch Youseff's monologue below, and read our full episode 15 recap.

March 9, 2024: Host Josh Brolin with musical guest Ariana Grande

Dune: Part Two star Josh Brolin returned to SNL for a third hosting stint on March 9. The Oscar nominee was joined by former host and musical guest Ariana Grande, who teamed up with her Wicked costar Bowen Yang in a musical sketch. The episode also included a surprise cameo by Scarlett Johansson as Sen. Katie Britt.

Watch Brolin's monologue, which included the actor stripping down to his underwear and plunging into an ice bath, below, and read our full episode 14 recap.

March 2, 2024: Host Sydney Sweeney with musical guest Kacey Musgraves

Emmy-nominated Euphoria and The White Lotus star Sydney Sweeney made her SNL debut on March 2, joined by Grammy winner Kacey Musgraves as musical guest. Also making an appearance in the episode was Sweeney's Anyone but You costarGlen Powell as the pair poked fun at the "craziest rumor" that they hooked up while making the rom-com.

Watch Sweeney's monologue below, and read our full episode 13 recap.

Feb. 24, 2024: Host Shane Gillis with musical guest 21 Savage

Shane Gillis, who was fired from the SNL cast before his first episode in 2019 after recordings surfaced of him using racist and homophobic slurs on his podcast, was invited to host the Feb. 24 episode. The comic was joined by musical guest 21 Savage. Gillis addressed his previous firing during his 8-minute monologue, saying, "I was fired from this show a while ago. Don't look that up, please. Please don't Google that. It's fine. Don't even worry about it. I probably shouldn't be up here honestly."

Watch Gillis' monologue below, and read our full episode 12 recap.

Feb. 3, 2024: Host Ayo Edebiri with musical guest Jennifer Lopez

Fresh off her recent Critics Choice, Golden Globe, and Emmy wins, The Bear star Ayo Edebiri hosted SNL on Feb. 3, her first time on the show. The Bottoms and Theater Camp actress was joined by Jennifer Lopez, in her fourth appearance as musical guest after previously hosting three times. In one sketch, Edebiri poked fun at recently resurfaced comments of her criticizing Lopez on a podcast. “It’s wrong to leave mean comments, or post comments just for clout, or run your mouth on a podcast, and you don’t consider the impact because you’re 24 and stupid," her character said in a game show sketch. "But I think I speak for everyone when I say from now on, we’re going to be a lot more thoughtful about what we post online.”

Watch Edebiri's monologue below, and read our full episode 11 recap.

Jan. 27, 2024: Host Dakota Johnson with musical guest Justin Timberlake

Madame Web star Dakota Johnson hosted SNL for the second time on Jan. 27, her first time back since hosting in 2015. The episode also saw the return of Justin Timberlake, a former frequent guest who last popped up as a musical guest in December 2013. As many predicted, Timberlake's pal Jimmy Fallon popped up as Barry Gibb, both in the monologue and later in a sketch where the pair revived their "The Barry Gibb Talk Show" characters.

Watch Johnson's monologue featuring Timberlake and Fallon below, and read our full episode 10 recap.

Jan. 20, 2024: Host Jacob Elordi with musical guest Reneé Rapp

Priscilla and Saltburn star Jacob Elordi ushered in the first SNL episode of the new year in his Jan. 20 hosting debut. The Euphoria heartthrob was joined by musical guest Reneé Rapp. Rapp, the star of the new Mean Girls, was fittingly introduced by original Regina George Rachel McAdamsfor her performance of the song "Not My Fault" from the movie musical. She was also joined by former SNL host and musical guest Megan Thee Stallion.

Watch Elordi's monologue below, and read our full episode 9 recap.

Dec. 16, 2023: Host Kate McKinnon with musical guest Billie Eilish

SNL alum Kate McKinnon returned home to Studio 8H for her hosting debut on Dec. 16. The two-time Emmy winner left the cast in a tearful goodbye after 11 seasons at the end of season 47, but it was like no time had passed at all when she stepped back on stage. Fellow SNL greats Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph also made several cameos in the episode. The Barbie star was joined by Billie Eilish, whose single from the same movie, "What Was I Made For?", scored five Grammy nominations, plus Golden Globe and Critics Choice nods.The singer's performance of the emotional movie ballad featured a montage of footage of women from the SNL cast, as well as McKinnon, Rudolph, and Wiig.

Watch McKinnon's monologue, including appearances by Wiig and Rudolph, below, and read our full episode 8 recap.

Dec. 9, 2023: Host Adam Driver with musical guest Olivia Rodrigo

Adam Driver returned to host for the fourth time on Dec. 9. The Ferrari actor has proven his comedy chops in past stints, including in fan-favorite sketch "Star Wars Undercover Boss." This time around, he referenced his iconic role in a galaxy far, far away by joking that he "didn’t kill Han Solo. Wokeness killed Han Solo." Driver was fittingly joined by "Drivers License" singer Olivia Rodrigo, making her second stint as musical guest and showing off her comedy skills in a sketch about selling Tiny Ass Bags. Julia Stiles also stopped by the show to recreate her Save the Last Dance routine with cast member Chloe Fineman.

Watch Driver's musical monologue below, and read our full episode 7 recap.

Dec. 2, 2023: Host Emma Stone with musical guest Noah Kahan

Following Thanksgiving break, Emma Stone made her SNL return for the Dec. 2 episode. The hosting stint saw Stone's entry into the show's exclusive Five-Timers Club, into which she was inducted by fellow female members, Tina Fey and Candice Bergen. Aside from her frequency as host, SNL has a special place in Stone's heart as it's also where the Poor Things and The Curse star met her husband, Dave McCary, when he directed the the iconic 2016 "Wells for Boys," which starred Stone. The actress was joined by Grammy Best New Artist nominee Noah Kahan as musical guest.

Watch Stone's monologue below, and read our full episode 6 recap.

Nov. 18, 2023: Host Jason Momoa with musical guest Tate McRae

Aquaman star Jason Momoa returned as host on Nov. 18, marking his first time back at the helm since making a splash in his 2018 debut and his first time back on the show at all since a cameo in 2020. Momoa was joined by singer Tate McRae in her SNL musical guest debut.

Watch Momoa's monologue below, and read our full episode 5 recap.

Nov. 11, 2023: Host Timothée Chalamet with musical guest Boygenius

Timothée Chalamet returned for a second hosting stint on Nov. 11, following his Dec. 12, 2020 SNL debut. Just days before the live show, the end of the 118-day SAG-AFTRA strike was announced, meaning the actor was free to finally call his upcoming film Wonka by its name, although, sadly, we were not treated to another appearancebyBowen Yang's"Proud Gay Oompa Loompa."The Dune star was joined by indie trio Boygenius, made up of Lucy Dacus, Julien Baker, and Phoebe Bridgers, who rocked out and also joined in the fun, showing off their red undies alongside Chalamet as they all played fever-dream versions of Australian pop starTroye Sivan.

Watch Chalamet's musical monologue below, and read our full episode 4 recap.

Oct. 28, 2023: Host Nate Bargatze with musical guest Foo Fighters

Stand-up comic Nate Bargatze stepped up to the plate to host the SNL Halloween episode on Oct. 28. With 4.9 million viewers, the live episode was the most watched since the Dec. 10, 2022 installment hosted by Steve Martin and Martin Short, per NBC. Bargatze was joined by Foo Fighters, in the band's ninth appearance as musical guest and their first televised appearance since the death of drummer Taylor Hawkins. The episode also included cameos from Christopher Walken and Padma Lakshmi, as well as a special tribute to former host Matthew Perry, just hours after his death was announced.

Watch Bargatze's monologue clocking in at more than nine minutes below, and read our full episode 3 recap.

Oct. 21, 2023: Host and musical guest Bad Bunny

The first SNL double duty host and musical guest of the season, Bad Bunny joined an elite group of multi-hyphenates who have served both roles on the show. Two stars who have previously done the same, Mick Jagger and Lady Gaga, made surprises appearances on the on Oct. 21 episode. The always delightful Pedro Pascal also stopped by to lend a hand during the monologue and revive his overprotective mom character.

Watch Bad Bunny's monologue featuring Pascal below, and read our full episode 2 recap.

Oct. 14, 2023: Host Pete Davidson with musical guest Ice Spice

SNL's former Resident Young Person returned to Studio 8H to usher in the show's latest era, while also making light of everything he's been up to since he left the show in 2022. The episode started on a more somber note as Davidson addressed the violence in Israel and Gaza in an emotional solo cold open. But the biggest surprise of the night came in the form of surprise (separate) appearances by Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. The NFL star popped up in a sketch about the pair's rumored romance, while Swift was on hand to introduce the night's musical guest, rapper and Dunkin' enthusiast Ice Spice.

Watch Davidson's monologue below, and read our full season 49 premiere episode recap.