Saturday Night Live Dec. 20 Christmas show host and musical guest: When was the last time Cher appeared on SNL?

There’s something special in store for the Christmas episode of NBC’s Saturday Night Live, which will be presented by Ariana Grande and feature a distinguished musical guest.

While Grande is making her third appearance as host, it’s been a while since we last saw tonight’s musical guest. Cher returns to the late night comedy show, 38 years after her first and only appearance.

Cher, the musical guest in 1987

Cher performed two songs: “We All Sleep Alone” and “I Found Someone”, both from her 18th studio album, the self-titled Cher in the fifth episode of Season 13 which aired on November 21, 1987.

Introduced by actress Candice Bergen, Cher took to the stage dressed from top to tow in black, and backed by Paul Shaffer & The World’s Most Dangerous Band, guitarist G.E. Smith and backing singer Patti Darcy-Jones.

There was a Thanksgiving theme throughout the episode, including host Candice Bergen’s story about the pet turkey she kept when she was a child - told whilst holding a live one.

Cher closed the show with her new single “I Found Someone” which peaked at number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Cher and SNL

She also made a cameo appearance in the premiere episode of Season 18, hosted by Nicolas Cage September 26, 1992. Cher appeared alongside Cage in the Weekend Update with Kevin Nealon segment. She also sang at the SNL50 Homecoming concert at Radio City Hall, performing her 1989 hit “If I Could Turn Back Time” with The Roots in the three-hour television concert special which aired live on Peacock on February 14, 2025.

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