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219 voters

The Best SNL Musical Guests Who Have Also Hosted

Updated November 18, 2019 3.0k votes 219 voters 2.0k views35 items

List RulesVote up the people who have done the best across both hosting and musical duties, across all their appearances.

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.

Photo:

1
137
42
Jennifer Lopez
Host: two episodes - February 10, 2001; February 27, 2010
Musical Guest: three episodes - February 5, 2000; February 10, 2001; February 27, 2010
2
64
18
Harry Styles
Host: November 16, 2019
Musical Guest: November 16, 2019
3
77
55
Lady Gaga
Host: November 16, 2013
Musical Guest: four episodes - October 3, 2009; May 21, 2011; November 16, 2013; October 22, 2016
4
65
52
Ariana Grande
Host: March 12, 2016
Musical Guest: two episodes - September 27, 2014; March 12, 2016
5
70
66
Drake
Host: two episodes - January 18, 2014; May 14, 2016
Musical Guest: three episodes - October 15, 2011; January 18, 2014; May 14, 2016
6
44
46
Dolly Parton
Host: April 15, 1989
Musical Guest: April 15, 1989
7
47
70
Justin Timberlake
Host: 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, 2013
8
55
86
Justin Bieber
Host: February 9, 2013
Musical Guest: two episodes - April 10, 2010; February 9, 2013
9
34
55
Bruno Mars
Host: October 20, 2012
Musical Guest: four episodes - October 9, 2010; October 20, 2012; November 22, 2014; October 15, 2016
10
32
56
Christina Aguilera
Host: February 21, 2004
Musical Guest: three episodes - April 8, 2000; March 15, 2003; November 11, 2006
11
26
65
Chance The Rapper
Host: two episodes - October 12, 2019, November 18, 2017
Musical Guest: three episodes - October 12, 2019, December 12, 2015; December 17, 2016
12
24
80
Taylor Swift
Host: November 7, 2009
Musical Guest: January 10, 2009; November 7, 2009; November 11, 2017
13
15
59
Madonna
Host: November 9, 1985
Musical Guest: January 16, 1993

14
15
63
Elton John
Host: April 2, 2011
Musical Guest: two episodes - April 17, 1982; April 2, 2011
15
16
74
Britney Spears
Host: two episodes - May 13, 2000; February 2, 2002
Musical Guest: three episodes - May 13, 2000; February 2, 2002; October 18, 2003
16
14
65
Lily Tomlin
Host: three episodes - November 22, 1975; September 18, 1976; January 22, 1983
Musical Guest: two episodes - November 22, 1975; January 22, 1983
17
13
58
Queen Latifah
Host: two episodes - March 8, 2003; October 9, 2004
Musical Guest: October 9, 2004
18
13
59
Mick Jagger
Host: May 19, 2012
Musical Guest: four episodes - December 16, 1978; February 6, 1993; December 8, 2001; May 19, 2012
19
13
61
Halsey
Host: February 9, 2019
Musical Guest: January 13, 2018; February 9, 2019
20
13
62
Garth Brooks
Host: two episodes - February 28, 1998; November 13, 1999
Musical Guest: two episodes - March 14, 1992; February 28, 1998
21
10
56
Ludacris
Host: November 18, 2006
Musical Guest: three times - January 22, 2005; November 18, 2006; November 22, 2008
22
9
56
Sting
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
23
9
60
Willie Nelson
Host: February 21, 1987
Musical Guest: three episodes - December 10, 1977; February 21, 1987; May 15, 1993

24
7
58
Debbie Harry
Host: February 14, 1981
Musical Guest: two episodes - February 14, 1981; January 24, 1987
25
7
62
Desi Arnaz
Host: February 21, 1976
Musical Guest: February 21, 1976

Desi Arnaz