Top 20 SNL Musical Guests Who Were Unexpectedly Funny
#20: Michael Bublé
“Hamm & Bublé”
Welcome to your new favorite pairing: Hamm and Bublé—sorry, that’s Bubbly. On paper, this might seem like a great business venture, but it soon becomes clear this partnership isn’t likely to be union-approved. Hamm is the domineering, prison-warden-like host, while Bublé bounces off him perfectly as his less-than-willing second banana. He plays the terrified and weary character so well while still holding every note smoothly, making the contrast with Hamm’s menace even funnier. Ham and bubbles might not be the first pairing you think of, but Hamm and Bublé are chef’s-kiss delicious, delivering a crisp, effervescent punch that leaves you intoxicated long after the final, perfectly executed drop.
#19: Megan Thee Stallion
“Deer”
What do you get when a Stallion and a deer cross paths? Don’t ask Kenan Thompson’s character, because he certainly wouldn’t know, which brings us to the “Deer” sketch. Thompson plays a father whose frustration boils over when he’s the only one missing out on seeing the wildlife outside the window. Throughout the sketch, the musical guest proves she can keep up with even the most unhinged premises, perfectly complementing her scenemates’ energy. It’s clear she’s having a blast too, perhaps no more so than when she’s supposed to deliver a heartwarming monologue and completely breaks. Not that we can blame her.
#18: Olivia Rodrigo
“Tiny Ass Bag”
This brilliant sketch gently lampoons the fashion industry's obsession with tiny, useless accessories. By treating a purse the size of a postage stamp like a revolutionary luxury breakthrough, it mocks the exorbitant prices we pay for elite nonsense. The hilarity peaks when Rodrigo deadpans that her microscopic luggage holds crucial essentials like your secrets, delivering this utter drivel with the solemnity of a space launch. Punctuated by the aggressive, dismissive rhythm of the tagline, the bit transforms overpriced absurdity into a hilarious bit of relatable comedy. It is a glorious middle finger to the cult of impractical high fashion…and dassit.
#17: Bad Bunny
“First Class”
This sketch plays on air travel anxieties, targeting real-world operational nightmares and safety concerns at Newark Airport. It’s the kind of mayhem that successfully unifies first class and economy in sheer terror. As the pilot desperately tries to get ahold of air traffic control, who should pick up but Bad Bunny? Playing a lighthearted controller on his very first day on the job, he holds panicked passengers’ lives entirely in his hands. Instead of using professional protocols to guide the troubled plane, he hilariously resorts to AI and basic math to keep them from crashing. Hey, you can do anything you put your mind to!
#16: Madonna
“Coffee Talk: Liz Rosenberg and Barbra Streisand”
Linda Richman is a stereotypical, hyper-specific New York Jewish character. Seeing an international pop icon like Madonna try to steer through this grounded, absurdly specific setup creates top-tier comedic friction. Much of the humor relies on the guest reacting to the host's bizarre personality. Madonna plays it relatively straight, essentially highlighting Linda’s quirky mannerisms. Watching a massive celebrity engage in trivial, nonsensical “coffee talk” is classic, especially when they throw themselves in so willingly. Of course, her reaction to the sketch’s surprise cameo proves she’s just as quick on her feet off-script as she is on the mic. Still, she’s as smooth as buttah.
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#15: Ariana Grande
“He-Man and Lion-O”
This is another host with so many hilarious highlights that it’s easy to forget she first showed off her comedic chops as a Season 40 musical guest. A lonely kid named Danny wishes his toys would come to life, but the results are a lot less wholesome than Disney promised. Grande plays She-Ra, an action figure who despises hugs, loves discovering her own anatomy, and lives to destroy anything in her path. She makes a late entrance, but leaves a massive crater in the room. It may have begun with Danny’s birthday wish, but it’s his mom who really gets this party started.
#14: Mick Jagger
“Weekend Update: Point/Counterpoint”
Mick Jagger has proven he can point and laugh at himself on a few occasions. But counterpoint: he clearly has way more fun parodying his bandmate! This bit jumps on rock lore, turning the Glimmer Twins’ famous frenemy dynamic into pure self-parody. Jagger captures Keith’s persona with physical comedy: slouching, rocking a headband, dragging on a cigarette, and delivering gravelly gibberish to counter Mike Myers’ high-strung Mick. When a billionaire rock legend spends prime-time television slouching in a ratty wig to roast his actual guitarist, decades of shared stadium sweat go right out the window for the sake of a great punchline. The frenemy-ship is clearly alive and well!
#13: Taylor Swift
“Three Sad Virgins”
Between her musical sets and sketch appearances, Taylor Swift has proven she’s just as lethal with comedy as she is with heartbreak anthems. We first saw this when she played a hardcore Annie in the “Save Broadway” sketch. But how can we ignore the queen of bridges popping into this digital short to passionately roast three unassuming comedy writers? Taylor leans all the way into the cruelty of the song with a straight face and hilarious sincerity, dropping viciously specific insults. Look, if you’re going to get savagely serenaded by a pop icon, Taylor Swift is honestly a pretty iconic way to go down.
#12: Stevie Wonder
“Stevie Experience”
Eddie Murphy’s Stevie Wonder impression is one of “SNL’s” finest creations. The only thing that could possibly top it is teaching it to… Stevie Wonder. Wonder plays his own impersonator, Alan, leaning into self-deprecating humor and managing to send himself up while sounding nothing like himself. Adopting an exaggerated, high-pitched nerdy voice and an awkward demeanor a million miles away from his legendary stage presence, he creates a brilliant fourth-wall-breaking dynamic. Murphy gives the impersonator tips on how to act like Stevie, coaching the actual Stevie on how to be Stevie, right as they run through a hilariously botched rendition of “My Cherie Amour.”
#11: The Weeknd
“On the Couch”
In one of the funniest musical sketches in SNL history, The Weeknd joins a lineup of bewildered men who simply cannot comprehend why they’ve been banished to the couch. While Kenan Thompson and Chris Redd offer somewhat plausible reasons for being in the doghouse, The Weeknd’s infractions get progressively more absurd. He sings about domestic triviality using the exact same sultry, silky-smooth R&B vocals reserved for chart-topping heartbreak tracks. Watching a global music superstar look genuinely pathetic, get ordered out of a driveway by James Bond (a.k.a Daniel Craig), and slowly back away in a modest sedan takes a sledgehammer to his ultra-cool persona.
#10: Paul McCartney
“Holiday Pageant”
The former Beatle brought more than just his musical genius to “SNL” in December 2012. In this sketch, McCartney appeared alongside host Martin Short as two cousins who audition at a local pageant. While Short’s character, Caleb, hogs the spotlight, he only allows McCartney’s Monty to play the triangle despite his desire to also sing. However, Monty continuously misses his cue. McCartney deadpans his way through the bit with surprising comedic timing. While fans know him for changing music history with the Beatles, McCartney showed he could play the straight man with perfect subtlety. After Short’s character gets frustrated and storms off, McCartney is allowed to sing, which then transitions into his third musical performance of the night.
#9: Katy Perry
“Bronx Beat: Maureen DiCicco”
When pop superstar Katy Perry appeared on “SNL” in 2010, fans expected her to stick to performing hits like “Teenage Dream.” Instead, she jumped into the “Bronx Beat” sketch with Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph, playing Maureen DiCicco, a volunteer at a local library whose recent growth spurt was causing quite a stir. This bit was seemingly done in response to Perry’s controversial outfit choice on “Sesame Street,” and that reference was made clear by the comically tight Elmo shirt she was rocking. Nevertheless, Perry fully committed to the joke, embracing the character’s naivety about her physical appearance and sending the audience into hysterics. And she managed to do it all without once breaking character.
#8: SZA
“Big Boys”
R&B sensation SZA was tapped as the musical guest in this Keke Palmer-hosted episode, but it wasn’t her live performances that stole the show. Instead, she went viral for the “Big Boys” sketch. The pre-recorded music video featured her singing about wanting “big boys” for the winter season who could keep her warm. Mostly known for her soulful, introspective music, SZA gleefully embraced the comedic but celebratory anthem about plus-sized men. Her goofy choreography and deadpan delivery of the song’s chorus showed a playful side fans rarely see in her typically serious artistic persona. That it quickly spawned TikTok trends and became one of the season’s most-watched sketches shows just how melodically and comedically gifted the singer is.
#7: Aerosmith
“Wayne's World: Aerosmith”
Rock legends don't always make great comedians, but Aerosmith shattered that stereotype in 1990. When the band drops by “Wayne’s World” courtesy of Garth’s cousin Barry, played by host Tom Hanks, they show surprising comedic timing. The hosts proceed to interview the musicians, asking about everything from Steven Tyler’s lips to the decline of Communism in Eastern Europe. Surprisingly, they deliver answers that are equal parts insightful and hilarious. But that’s not even the best part of the sketch. After their Q&A session, the band agrees to fulfill Wayne’s dream of playing together. The willingness of these rock icons to poke fun at themselves and their serious image made this one of the best “Wayne’s World” installments.
#6: Lady Gaga
“3-Way (The Golden Rule)”
For her second stint as musical guest, Lady Gaga not only delivered powerful performances of her songs, but she also showcased her comedic timing in multiple sketches. However, her shining moment definitely came in the digital short “3-Way (The Golden Rule)” alongside Justin Timberlake and Andy Samberg. Continuing their Lonely Island-style videos, the sketch featured Gaga as the unwitting female third party in a “not gay” threesome between Timberlake and Samberg's characters. Gaga fully committed to the absurdity, delivering lines with impeccable deadpan timing while maintaining a straight face through increasingly ridiculous scenarios. The Mother Monster proved she could be genuinely funny without relying on shock value or elaborate costumes, something few would have predicted at that time.
#5: Justin Timberlake
“Celebrity Family Feud”
Though technically a musical guest for the 2013 Christmas episode, Justin Timberlake might as well have been co-hosting with Jimmy Fallon given how completely he dominated the sketches. In “Celebrity Family Feud,” Timberlake's spot-on impression of Jimmy Fallon, who was right across from him playing Jim Parsons, created a meta comedy moment that had the audience howling. The former NSYNC member nailed Fallon’s trademark giggle and hand-slapping with such precision that even Fallon himself struggled to maintain composure. While Timberlake had established himself as a solid “SNL” performer over the years, this particular impression demonstrated a level of observational comedy and timing that surprised even his longtime fans.
#4: Rihanna
“Shy Ronnie”
Rihanna's early public persona made her seem like the last person who'd excel at self-deprecating comedy, yet her appearance in “Shy Ronnie” with Andy Samberg proved otherwise. The digital short featured the singer trying to perform with Samberg's painfully introverted rapper character. Rihanna showcased impeccable comedic timing, especially in her increasingly frustrated attempts to get Ronnie to speak up. The contrast between her powerful vocals and Ronnie's whispers created comedy gold. The sketch was so successful it earned an Emmy nomination and spawned a sequel the following year, with the two trying to rob a bank. For an artist known for her cool, unflappable image, Rihanna's ability to play the straight woman to Samberg's bizarre character revealed comedy skills no one knew she possessed.
#3: Dave Grohl
“Punk Band Reunion At The Wedding”
When Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl appeared in this sketch, he reminded everyone of his comedic talents. Playing the former drummer of fictional hardcore punk band "Crisis of Conformity," Grohl joined Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, and Ashton Kutcher in performing an aggressive anti-establishment anthem at a father-of-the-bride's wedding speech. Grohl's manic energy behind the drums while wearing a suit demonstrated his absolute commitment to the bit. His character's seamless switch between polite wedding guest and anarchistic drummer showcased remarkable range. Drawing from his actual experience in the punk scene, Grohl brought authenticity to the absurdity. While music fans knew of his charisma in interviews, his performance here revealed legitimate acting skills and impeccable comedic timing.
#2: Chance the Rapper
“Jingle Barack”
December 2016 found musical guest Chance the Rapper stealing the show in the instant classic “Jingle Barack.” This pre-recorded music video celebrated the last Christmas of the Obama administration with Chance and Kenan Thompson performing a spot-on Run-DMC parody. Channeling the hip-hop legends' style, delivery, and mannerisms, Chance displayed shocking versatility and precise comedic timing. His earnest performance of increasingly absurd lyrics about things he needed to do before Trump took office highlighted both his musical and comedic gifts. His performance was so impressive that he'd return to host the show the following season, during which he debuted a spiritual successor to “Jingle Barack” titled “Come Back, Barack.”
#1: Beyoncé
“Beyoncé Video Shoot”
Queen Bey. Her name evokes images of flawless performances, powerful vocals, and an almost regal stage presence. She is a meticulous artist, a perfectionist known for her intense focus and serious artistry. That’s precisely why her appearance in the “Single Ladies” video shoot sketch was a comedic revelation. Portraying herself, she played the exasperated straight woman to Andy Samberg, Bobby Moynihan and Justin Timberlake as male backup dancers hilariously butchering her iconic choreography. Beyoncé's deadpan reactions, her subtle eye-rolls, and her quiet but firm demands for perfection were unexpectedly funny. She subverted her own majestic image, allowing herself to be the anchor in a sea of comedic chaos, proving that even a goddess can have a fantastic sense of humor.
Which musical guest do you think gave the funniest performance? Let us know in the comments
