When host Bad Bunny and musical guest Doja Cat take the stage at Studio 8H in New York for Saturday Night Live’s Season 51 opener on Saturday (Oct. 4), they’ll join a long and star-studded lineage. We took a look back to see who was booked as host and musical guest on the first episodes of every previous season of the show.
These are considered plum bookings: Viewers often make an extra effort to check out the first episode of a season. As a result, producers go all out to open the season with a strong episode. For SNL, that means booking a hot host and musical guest.
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They have definitely done that this year. Bunny has topped the Billboard 200 with his last four albums, is the top nominee for this year’s Latin Grammys and was just announced as the musical performer on the 2026 Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show. Doja Cat just released her fifth studio album, Vie, which is, well, vying to become her fourth consecutive album to make the top 10 on the Billboard 200.
Legendary comedian George Carlin was host of the first episode on Oct. 11, 1975. There were two musical guests that night — Billy Preston and Janis Ian — both of whom had had big recent hits on the Billboard Hot 100.
Steve Martin has hosted four season-openers, more than anyone else. Tom Hanks is in second place, having hosted two season-openers.
Ye (formerly Kanye West) has been the musical guest on three season-openers, more than anyone else. The Rolling Stones and Miley Cyrus are the only performers who were both host and musical guest on a season-opener.
If you’re ready to go back in time, here are the hosts and musical guests on the first episode of every SNL season.