Sabrina Carpenter and Paul Simon Open SNL’s 50th Anniversary Special with ‘Homeward Bound’ Performance

Sabrina Carpenter and Paul Simon are coming home to Saturday Night Live for its 50th-anniversary special.

On Feb. 16, Sunday, the “Espresso” songstress, aged 25, and “You Can Call Me Al” warbler and Five-Timers Club honorary member, aged 83, opened up the show by playing an acoustic cover of the Simon & Garfunkel track “Homeward Bound.”

Simon reported that he debuted on the sketch show in 1976 to sing the song with George Harrison during SNL’s second season. Carpenter made light of not having been born yet — nor had her parents.

“Well, I’m glad they’re going to be able to hear it tonight,” Simon said. “Me too!” Carpenter replied, before singing the 1966 song.
The celebrity-listed cast of SNL50: The Anniversary Special also featured Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, Ayo Edebiri and Bad Bunny.

Some other stars who appeared in the milestone special were Adam Driver, Dave Chappelle, John Mulaney, Kim Kardashian, Martin Short, Miley Cyrus, Paul Simon, Pedro Pascal, Peyton Manning, Quinta Brunson, Robert De Niro, and Woody Harrelson.

Previous cast members also appeared, such as Amy Poehler, Andy Samberg, Chevy Chase, Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, Fred Armisen, Garrett Morris, Jane Curtin, Jason Sudeikis, Jimmy Fallon, Kate McKinnon, Kenan Thompson, Kristen Wiig, Laraine Newman, Maya Rudolph, Molly Shannon, Pete Davidson, Seth Meyers, Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Will Ferrell and Will Forte.

Simon has appeared numerous times on Saturday Night Live during its 50-year run. Although he has only hosted four times in 1975, 1976, 1986 and 1987, the artist is a member of the Five-Timers Club for his work on the sketch show’s 100th episode in 1980.

He’s also been a musical guest more than a dozen times and has made six cameos throughout the years.

Simon has also been friends with the creator of the show Lorne Michaels for more than 50 years. The singer volunteered to host the first episode of the show but Michaels, 80, declined his offer so he could “work out the kinks on the first show,” according to Vulture.

Simon would end up double-teaming on SNL’s second show in 1975 as a co-musical guest with Randy Newman and Phoebe Snow. The next season, he returned to host dressed as a turkey during Thanksgiving.

His greatest memory on the show was singing “The Boxer” surrounded by NYC firemen and police officers on the Sept. 29 episode after the September 11 attacks.

His latest performance was in October 2018 when he performed “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”

Meanwhile, Carpenter debuted on the show last May. For her debut, she performed “Espresso,” “Feather” and “Nonsense.” >

A day after her debut, Carpenter shared her experience on Instagram and had a cheeky comment about her “Espresso” lyrics.

“Literally working late cuz I’m a singer @nbcsnl thank you for having us I’m sooooo not chill about it and never will be,” she posted.

And meanwhile, in November, Carpenter leaned into an SNL sketch at her Short n’ Sweet tour show in Los Angeles. At her performances, the “Taste” artist “arrests” someone from the audience prior to the beginning of her song “Juno” — and she targeted Marcello Hernández’s fan favorite SNL character, Domingo.

“Sabrina, I’m here!” Hernández, 27, yelled from the crowd, according to a fan-captured footage on TikTok. The comedian then proceeded to say he’s the “cute boy with the blue jacket and the thick accent,” remixing her song “Bed Chem.” >

When the Grammy-winner, asked “Domingo” if he had anything left to say — he broke into song.

“From way out there / Had to clarify / Straight from Domingo / Sabrina’s a buddy / She’s my sister like / But I would hook up though,” he crooned.

In the SNL sketch, bridesmaids stage a reveal about how the bride hooked up with Domingo during her bachelorette party to the sounds of Carpenter’s popular song “Espresso.” Carpenter and Hernández retooled the sketch during the live SNL50 airing on Feb. 16, which included several other trendy celebrities. >

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