In the five-decade history of NBC’s Saturday Night Live, only 41 individuals have had the distinction of hosting and performing as the musical guest on the same night, a rare privilege granted by Lorne Michaels. This exclusive roster includes iconic names such as Paul Simon (One-Trick Pony, The Graduate), Ray Charles (The Blues Brothers), Elton John (“Rocket Man,” “I’m Still Standing”), Britney Spears (“…Baby One More Time,” “Toxic”) and Taylor Swift (Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour). Interestingly, just four of these individuals were not primarily known as singers or musicians: Lily Tomlin (Grace and Frankie, 9 to 5), who appeared on Nov. 22, 1975 and Jan. 22, 1983; Desi Arnaz (I Love Lucy) on Feb. 21, 1976; Gary Busey (The Buddy Holly Story) on March 10, 1979; and Deion Sanders (Street Fighter, Celtic Pride) on Feb. 18, 1995.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Timothée Chalamet (Call Me by Your Name, Lady Bird) is set to become the next addition to this prestigious group on Jan. 25. Starring in the new Bob Dylan (“Rainy Day Women #12 & 35,” “The Times They Are a-Changin'”) biopic, A Complete Unknown, Chalamet has impressed audiences by performing several of Dylan’s iconic songs in the film. The timing of Chalamet’s appearance couldn’t be more fitting, as he is in the midst of a significant Oscar campaign. At just 29, he is vying to break the record as the youngest actor ever to win the Academy Award for Best Actor—a title currently held by Adrien Brody, another contender this season. With Oscar nominations scheduled for Jan. 17 and final voting beginning on Feb. 11, Chalamet’s dual performance on SNL could give him additional momentum.
As he prepares to take the stage at Studio 8H in New York, it’s anticipated that his musical numbers will focus on Dylan classics like “Blowin’ in the Wind” or “Like a Rolling Stone,” despite Chalamet’s well-known love for rap music.