Best Moments From the ‘SNL50’ Concert: Lady Gaga Sings ‘Dick in a Box,’ Nirvana Reunites & More

Far from comin’ to ya on a dusty road, NBC’s SNL50: The Homecoming Concert streamed live to viewers via Peacock from New York City’s famed Radio City Music Hall on Friday (Feb. 14), with the celebration honoring the long-running sketch comedy show and its rich musical history the moment it kicked off. Host Jimmy Fallon – who joined Saturday Night Live in 1998 – launched the evening with an energetic tribute to former cast members John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd’s Blues Brothers by performing “Soul Man,” which the musical duo had delivered on the show in 1978.

From there, the three-plus-hour event brought back not only beloved comedians from the program’s storied history, but also many of the biggest names in music who have taken to the famed stage at 30 Rock’s Studio 8H over the last five decades and across various genres, from rock to hip-hop, country, pop and beyond. Among those marking SNL’s half-century on the air at the concert were Cher, Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny, Miley Cyrus, Robyn, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Jack White, Backstreet Boys, Jelly Roll, Bonnie Raitt and many more, with Questlove and The Roots backing up multiple acts.

This being SNL, there were naturally comedic moments, though not always from stars of the show both past and present (Cyrus tweaking her “Flowers” lyric to “I can love you better than ADAM SANDLER can!” had the audience roaring with laughter), as well as a few somber ones. Among the latter were Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder taking a moment to remember late cast members such as Belushi, Gilda Radner and Norm McDonald while performing Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers’ “The Waiting,” and when Mumford & Sons’ Marcus Mumford introduced Jerry Douglas and shared they would be performing Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Boxer,” which Paul Simon also delivered on the first SNL broadcast back after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

But for the most part, The Homecoming Concert was a joyous, laugh-filled celebration that highlighted not just the comedic talent the show has introduced to audiences over the years, but also the vast array of musicians who have delivered historic performances. Here are some of the best moments of the SNL50 concert, as experienced from the seats of Radio City Music Hall.