NEWS
Paul McCartney, Sabrina Carpenter, Paul Simon and more have been added to the ‘SNL’ 50 concert line-up.
Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary special is set to take place this Sunday (February 16) and will include the likes of McCartney, Carpenter, Simon as well as Miley Cyrus, Lil Wayne, Brittany Howard, and The Roots.
The musical performances will be combined with a three-hour primetime special which will feature various live sketches which will see both past and present SNL cast members, special guests, and retrospectives celebrating the show’s 50th anniversary.
Simon’s appearance at the show will be a special moment as a rare live appearance as he has largely retired from performing live due to his severe hearing loss in 2023. The ‘You Can Call Me Al’ hitmaker has hosted the show four times and has appeared as the musical guest 13 times.
SNL alumnus Jimmy Fallon will be on hosting duties, while Lorne Michaels and Mark Ronson are the show’s executive producers. The concert will take place at New York’s Radio City Music Hall.
The show will also include the previously announced artists Backstreet Boys, Bad Bunny, Brandi Carlile, Chris Martin, David Byrne, Jack White, Robyn, Arcade Fire, Bonnie Raitt, DEVO, Eddie Vedder, Jelly Roll, Lady Gaga, Mumford & Sons, Post Malone, Preservation Hall Jazz Band and The B-52s.
It was also recently announced that Dave Grohl would be making an appearance as well. His addition came as no surprise, seeing as he’s been the long-running show’s most frequent performer, having appeared as a musical guest a recording-breaking 15 times.
SNL has been celebrating its 50th anniversary, launching its 50th season in late September. Among the content planned and already rolled out for its 50th anniversary are the feature film Saturday Night, a Questlove-helmed documentary focusing on the programming’s music and more.
Busta Rhymes is honoring his late friend D’Angelo in a truly moving way. The rapper released a heartfelt tribute track titled “Magic,” marking one of his most emotional releases in years. The song celebrates the neo-soul legend D’Angelo, who sadly passed away earlier this month after a private battle with cancer. Over the smooth, soulful backdrop of D’Angelo’s “One Mo’ Gin” from his 2000 classic Voodoo, Busta reflects deeply, sharing raw and powerful emotions through his storytelling.
Throughout the seven-minute piece, Busta takes listeners on a journey through his 34-year friendship with D’Angelo. He recalls their early sessions with A Tribe Called Quest and describes the lasting connection they built over the decades. Instead of simply celebrating the music, Busta pays homage to the person behind it. He describes D’Angelo as a rare, once-in-a-generation artist who “never needed a co-sign” and “touched the souls of the people and everything between.”
During an interview with Okayplayer, Busta called D’Angelo “a godsend,” reflecting on his influence across R&B and hip-hop. “The Earth shifted when D came to do music,” he said, a statement that perfectly sums up D’Angelo’s impact. Anyone familiar with Brown Sugar, Voodoo, or Black Messiah knows his legacy speaks volumes.
“Magic” feels like a conversation between two lifelong friends. Busta Rhymes gives fans an intimate look at a bond that helped shape decades of soul-infused hip-hop. The tributes pouring in since D’Angelo’s passing highlight not only his extraordinary artistry but also the love and respect he inspired among peers. Lauryn Hill expressed it beautifully, writing, “Thank you for being a beacon of light to a generation and beyond who had no remembrance of the legacy that preceded us.”
