For fifty years, Saturday Night Live (SNL) has been a stage for some of the most unforgettable musical performances in television history. From groundbreaking debuts to defining moments, the show has captured artists at their boldest and most iconic. Here is a look at ten standout performances that have left a lasting mark.
Janis Ian. Photo courtesy of Andrew Kent.
1. Janis Ian, October 11, 1975
SNL made its debut on NBC on October 11, 1975, then titled NBC’s Saturday Night. Hosted by comedian and actor George Carlin, the premiere episode featured a series of stand-up monologues in place of the traditional host-led sketches we now expect. The episode featured two musical guests: keyboardist and singer Billy Preston, who performed his hit “Nothing From Nothing,” and singer-songwriter Janis Ian.
Ian delivered a haunting rendition of her breakout song “At Seventeen,” which she wrote in her early twenties after reading a New York Times article about a high school girl struggling with self-confidence. The song’s themes of isolation and disappointment resonated with many viewers, and her emotionally raw performance stood in contrast to the edgy humor woven throughout the episode.
Ian’s presence reflected SNL’s early ambition to blend mainstream appeal with thoughtful, genre-defining artistry. While today’s show is faster-paced and more tightly structured, the debut episode was a looser, more experimental version of what the show would become. Ian’s performance remains one of SNL’s most moving musical moments, as well as serving as a reminder of how music on the show has helped shape its cultural legacy.
2. Elvis Costello, December 15, 1977
When Elvis Costello made his appearance on SNL on December 15, 1977, the network was adamant that he not perform his song “Radio Radio.” The main concern was that the song criticized the commercialism of British radio, and NBC did not want to take the risk of being associated with it. During rehearsals, Costello played “Watching the Detectives” and “Less Than Zero.” But once the show went live, he decided that “Less Than Zero” was not energetic enough, and Costello abruptly ended the song and launched into “Radio Radio.”
Although even Lorne Michaels, the creator of the show, anticipated some backlash, Costello was never officially banned, despite rumors swirling over the years that he was. He later returned for additional performances, including the twenty-fifth anniversary special in 1999, where he performed “Sabotage” with the Beastie Boys. Still, that surprise moment in 1977 remains one of the most iconic in the show’s history.
3. David Bowie, December 15, 1979
If there was any performer who could push the boundaries of live television and still captivate an audience, it was David Bowie. During his appearance on SNL on December 15, 1979, Bowie transformed each of his songs into a visual spectacle, donning a series of elaborate costumes. He wore a PVD tuxedo for “The Man Who Sold the World,” a skirt suit during “TVC 15” and he even used a pink poodle as a prop. Influenced by the anti-establishment art movement Dadaism, which he discovered during his time in Berlin, Bowie brought a dreamlike and avant-garde feeling to the stage.
In a bold move, he incorporated green screen effects and puppetry into his “Boys Keep Swinging” routine. Backed by Klaus Nomi and Joey Arias, Bowie’s visionary blend of music and theatrics left a lasting impression, redefining what a live television performance could be.
Prince, 2008. Photo courtesy of Scott Penner.
4. Prince, February 21, 1981
The incomparable Prince was the epitome of eclectic style and funk, renowned for his inventive music and lively performances. On February 21, 1981, he made his debut on SNL with one of his first major televised performances, delivering a high-energy rendition of “Partyup” from his “Dirty Mind” album. Prince pushed boundaries in more ways than one. His charged stage presence was rare for the show at the time, and he also performed the song using its original lyrics, which included a profane word that surprisingly was not censored.
Ironically, later in the episode, cast member Charles Rocket used the same word more explicitly, leading to his and executive producer Jean Doumanian’s dismissal. Prince’s first appearance on SNL remains memorable not only for the music but also for sparking one of the show’s earliest and most talked-about controversies.
5. Nirvana, January 11, 1992
The 1990s saw the rise of many influential bands and leading that wave was Nirvana. As one of the first groups to bring grunge into the mainstream, they changed the landscape of rock music. Their breakthrough single, “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” from their second album, “Nevermind,” became one of the best-selling songs of all time. Kurt Cobain began writing the song shortly before recording the album, saying he wanted to create the ultimate pop song, inspired by the sound of the Pixies.
On January 11, 1992, Nirvana performed it live on SNL, delivering a moment that would leave a lasting mark on both the show and music history. Their performance officially introduced grunge to a national audience, and Cobain’s raw, guttural vocals signaled a major shift in rock music and the tone of SNL’s musical performances.
6. Sinéad O’Connor, October 3, 1992
If there was one performance that shocked and divided viewers, it was Sinéad O’Connor’s powerful rendition of the Bob Marley song “War” on October 3, 1992. As her second song of the night, O’Connor used it as a protest against the Catholic Church, which she had previously said was responsible for the physical, sexual and emotional abuse she suffered as a child. At the end of the performance, she held up a photo of Pope John Paul II, declared “fight the real enemy” and ripped the photo.
Producers had no idea she planned to do this because during rehearsals, she had held up a photo of a refugee child instead. The performance sparked an immediate outcry, with complaints pouring in from viewers, the Catholic Church and the Anti-Defamation League. Still, O’Connor never expressed regret. In 2025, SNL finally aired the performance unedited, years after widespread revelations of abuse within the Church. Her protest remains one of the most controversial and unforgettable moments in the show’s history.
7. Ashlee Simpson, October 23, 2004
Not every artist who performs on SNL walks away with a positive experience, and that was certainly the case for pop singer Ashlee Simpson during her appearance on October 23, 2004. Leading up to the show, Simpson developed throat issues that affected her ability to sing live. It was ultimately decided that she would lip-sync both of her songs, “Pieces of Me” and “Autobiography,” from her debut album “Autobiography.” However, Lorne Michaels later stated he had not been informed of this decision and would not have approved it.
The audience was also unaware, so when “Pieces of Me” accidentally began playing during her second performance instead of the intended track “Autobiography,” Simpson froze, performed an awkward dance and quickly left the stage. The show cut to a commercial, but the backlash was immediate. At a time when live performance was still seen as essential, the incident sparked widespread debate about lip-syncing on television. By today’s standards, with many artists routinely using auto-tune and backing tracks, the reaction likely would have been far more subdued.
Simpson returned to SNL in October 2005 for a more successful performance, but it is her 2004 appearance that remains one of the most infamous musical moments in the show’s history.
8. Beyoncé, November 15, 2008
Beyonce, 2023. Photo courtesy of Raphael Pour-Hashemi.
Beyoncé first appeared on SNL in May 2001 with Destiny’s Child, then returned in May 2003 to make her solo debut, marking the beginning of her rise from group member to solo superstar. She built on that momentum with a second solo appearance on November 15, 2008, delivering a standout performance that showcased her range and charisma: first with a stripped-down rendition of “If I Were a Boy,” followed by an energetic version of “Single Ladies.”
That same episode featured an iconic sketch in which Andy Samberg, Justin Timberlake and Bobby Moynihan joined Beyoncé in dancing to “Single Ladies” while wearing matching leotards. The sketch quickly went viral, becoming one of SNL’s earliest breakout moments in the new digital age. It helped propel the song to global success and proved that Beyoncé was both a musical powerhouse and a true cultural phenomenon.
9. Jack White, October 10, 2020
Rock singer Jack White, known for his breakout success as the guitarist and lead vocalist of The White Stripes, made his third solo appearance as a musical guest on SNL on October 10, 2020. But this was no ordinary episode because the country was amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Country singer Morgan Wallen was originally scheduled to perform, but Jack White ended up being brought in as a last-minute replacement.
His inventive first performance opened with a medley that included “Don’t Hurt Yourself,” which he co-wrote and performed on Beyoncé’s “Lemonade” album, “Ball and Biscuit” and Blind Willie Johnson’s “Jesus Is Coming Soon.” For his second set, he performed “Lazaretto” from his 2014 solo album, using a custom guitar given to him by the late Eddie Van Halen. In a time marked by social distancing and an empty studio, White’s artistry helped to pierce through the silence and create one of the most unforgettable performances of that abnormal season.
10. Taylor Swift, November 13, 2021
Throughout her career as one of the most influential pop artists in the world, Taylor Swift has delivered four memorable musical performances on SNL. But it was her fifth appearance on November 13, 2021 that truly broke the mold and redefined what an SNL performance could be. Traditionally, musical guests perform two songs, but that night, Swift only performed an extended ten-minute version of “All Too Well,” a re-recorded version of a fan-favorite track from her 2012 “Red” album.
The cinematic staging made the performance feel more like a short film than a typical live show. It aired just one day after the release of “Red (Taylor’s Version),” her second re-recorded album following her dispute with Big Machine Records over the rights to her early catalog. The moment captured Swift’s evolution into an artist with full creative control, turning a live television appearance into an emotional and artistic statement.
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SNL remains a cultural landmark, with its musical stage launching legends, sparking controversy, and capturing memorable moments. From Janis Ian’s quiet intensity to Taylor Swift’s powerful presence, the show’s legacy of remarkable musical moments continues to add to its celebrated history.
