Top 10 Celebs You Forgot Hosted SNL

#10: Dolly Parton

It almost feels sacrilegious to suggest that anything Dolly Parton does could ever slip through the cracks of pop culture memory, but her “Saturday Night Live” hosting gig is exactly that, a glittering gem tucked away in the shadow of her larger-than-life legacy. Back in season 14, Dolly pulled off the once-rare double act as both host and musical guest, delivering the kind of powerhouse performances you’d expect from the Queen of Country. Sure, her sketches, like the cheekily titled “Planet of the Enormous Hooters,” aren’t the first thing fans recall when they think of Dolly, especially when her resume includes everything from “9 to 5” to “Steel Magnolias.”

#9: Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera’s turn as both host and musical guest was the kind of pop-culture curveball that makes dusting off “SNL” history so much fun. While most of us knew Xtina could belt out a ballad with the best of them, few expected her to dive headfirst into sketch comedy with such gusto. Her monologue and that infamous “Sex and the City” parody might feel a little dated now, but back then, she wowed audiences with her knack for impressions and a fearless approach to physical comedy. Whether she was channeling a liberated 1880s suffragette or hamming it up as a telenovela maid, Xtina proved she was game for anything.

#8: Nick Lachey & Jessica Simpson

Flash back to the early 2000s, when reality TV royalty Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey were America’s favorite newlyweds, and “SNL” decided to jump on the bandwagon by inviting them to co-host in season 29. If you don’t remember the episode, you might at the very least recall the infamous technical glitch during their monologue, a moment that perfectly captured the anything-can-happen spirit of live TV. Simpson leaned hard into her “dumb blonde” persona, sometimes to a fault, while it often felt like Lachey played second fiddle. Still, you have to give Jessica credit for stepping into the impression game alongside the “SNL” pros and fully committing to the bit.

#7: Tim Curry

The Dick Ebersol era of “SNL” might be a blur for many fans, but Tim Curry’s season 7 episode is a cult classic hiding in plain sight. The highlight was the “Rocky Horror Show” sketch, which reunited Curry with musical guest Meat Loaf and gave fans a tongue-in-cheek nod to their legendary film. Curry didn’t stop there; he unleashed a spot-on Mick Jagger impression, delivered a slyly provocative monologue with Eddie Murphy, and even serenaded the audience with the cheeky “Zucchini Song.” What really set Curry apart was his effortless chemistry with the then-new cast and his ability to ditch the cue cards, and it’s clear he’s having a ball.

#6: Colin Firth

Colin Firth’s one and only “SNL” hosting gig in Season 29 is a delightful time capsule from the mid-2000s, right as “Love Actually” was cementing his rom-com royalty status. Firth gamely played up his “stuffy Brit” persona while navigating the whirlwind energy of the Fallon-Poehler era. Although he also showed that there’s more to his talent than a stiff upper lip. The episode’s crown jewel is Firth donning a tracksuit and slicked-back hair to channel Paulie Walnuts in a “Sopranos” parody. He also took a swing at a Southern accent and endured a monologue ambush by cast members in full period regalia, proving he could roll with the punches on live television.

#5: Ringo Starr

Ringo Starr may be forever enshrined as the legendary drummer of The Beatles, but even rock royalty can have an “SNL” moment that slips through the cracks. While Paul McCartney and George Harrison popped up as musical guests and in memorable cameos, Ringo is the only Beatle who took on the full host-and-sketch gauntlet back in season 10. Sadly, his episode fell victim to the Ebersol era’s tendency to fade into the background, so sketches like “The Beatles Auction” and the Ed Grimley bit are rarely revisited. For most fans, Ringo’s “SNL” stint is a quirky blip in a career defined by musical milestones.

#4: Johnny Cash

Talk about a surreal pairing: Johnny Cash, the original “Man in Black,” hosting while Elton John handled musical guest duties. This Season 7 episode is lost in the “dark ages” of “SNL.” Cash brought charisma, but comedy wasn’t his comfort zone, so writers kept him in three sketches, two of which had him playing… Johnny Cash. The standout moment is “Last Request,” where Eddie Murphy’s death-row inmate hilariously stalls his execution by asking Cash to sing “99,000 Bottles of Beer on the Wall.” It’s a classic, but remembered as an Eddie Murphy showcase. Still, the fact that not more people have seen Cash and John switch outfits is an injustice we’re delighted to rectify.

#3: MC Hammer

Back in the early '90s, during “SNL’s” 17th season, MC Hammer was at the absolute height of his “Too Legit to Quit” powers, and “SNL” handed him the keys to Studio 8H as both host and musical guest. The result was a spectacle so over-the-top that the stage literally had to be expanded to fit Hammer’s army of dancers. The episode delivered a dance-off monologue with Chris Rock channeling Michael Jackson and a “Bad Haircut” sketch that’s pure early ‘90s cheese. While Hammer’s comedic chops didn’t quite match his stage presence, “U Can’t Touch This” gloriously kitschy time capsule from that era of pop culture history.

#2: Courteney Cox

While “Friends” was already on the air and gaining immense popularity, it was still relatively early in its run. Courteney Cox, beloved for her role as Monica Geller, brought her comedic timing to the live sketch format. The primary reason the episode is forgotten is that it aired during Season 20, widely considered one of the show’s worst seasons. Some of her episode highlights include her monologue, “His Muse Friday,” and the “Gapardy” sketch. Looking back at the experience, Cox said she was “too green” and “not nearly confident enough” for the role, though she expressed interest in taking another shot at it.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Catherine Oxenberg

Remember When Literal Royalty Hosted the Show?

Michael Jordan

Often Considered a Slam Dunk of a Host

Johnny Knoxville

Makes Us Wonder What If He Had Taken Up Lorne Michael’s Offer to Join the Cast?

Nancy Kerrigan

We Think “SNL” Wants Us to Forget This One

George Wendt & Francis Ford Coppola

Easily One of the Most Bizarre& Experimental Episodes in “SNL” History

#1: Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen DeGeneres has worn more hats than most in Hollywood: trailblazing stand-up, sitcom star, lovable Regal Tang fish, and daytime talk show royalty. She’s not the only talk show host to grace Studio 8H, either, and no, we don’t mean Maya Rudolph’s iconic parody of Oprah. Yes, the actual Oprah Winfrey hosted back in season 11! Anyway, Ellen hosted back in season 27, bringing some much-needed light and levity to a New York still under the dark cloud of 9/11. It’s fair to say that her hosting stint is often overshadowed by the later, more dominant phases of her career, particularly her nearly two-decade run as a talk show host that reshaped her public image.

Is there anyone else we’ve still forgotten? Let us know in the comments