Ariana Grande took the stage at Studio 8H to host Saturday Night Live, bringing laughter with her impressive impressions of celebrities like Britney Spears and Celine Dion. The singer, who will portray Glinda in the much-anticipated film adaptation of “Wicked” this November, expressed her enthusiasm in her opening monologue about returning to the iconic studio for the show’s 50th season.
“Thank you so much,” Grande stated. “I’m thrilled to be back hosting. This year has been incredible for me. Getting to play Glinda in the ‘Wicked’ movie is a dream come true for any theater kid. And let’s be real, every theater kid dreams of being Glinda or Elphaba, right? Well, maybe the second dream after losing their virginity!”
Reflecting on her previous hosting experience, she reminisced, “The last time I hosted was in 2016, right before we elected our first female president. So I guess the second time’s the charm.”
Known for her remarkable vocal talent, Grande humorously clarified, “I just want to make it clear that I’m only hosting. I won’t make this about me. I’m just here to have fun, relax, and keep things chill.”
When a microphone was handed to her offstage, she playfully exclaimed, “Oh, what’s this?” before teasing the audience, “I’m not going to sing my favorite notes or do my impressions…” Yet, she effortlessly showcased her vocal prowess, mimicking Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, and Gwen Stefani, even delivering an immaculate rendition of Stefani’s “Don’t Speak.” As she was lifted into the air, Grande quipped, “I promised I wouldn’t do a lift!”
Bowen Yang joined her onstage dressed in a classic “Wizard of Oz” Glinda costume. Grande joked, “Bowen, didn’t anyone tell you? We cut the ‘Wicked’ sketch.” Yang responded lightheartedly, “Oh, that’s okay. I didn’t really want to do it anyway.” Grande playfully retorted, “Great! And this isn’t a wand; it’s a flask,” while playfully pulling at Yang’s wand.
She continued her playful banter, insisting, “I’m not going to do a duet tonight, so please don’t bring out Stevie Nicks! And the last thing I’m going to do is introduce some hot dancers for some incredibly high kicks!” Grande was then joined by a dazzling chorus line dressed in sparkling suits.
In another humorous sketch, she impersonated Celine Dion, parodying the singer’s recent surprising promotional video for the NFL. In this version, Grande’s Dion sang about the brutalities of UFC fighting in a comedic twist on “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now.”