SZA to Perform on ‘Saturday Night Live,’ Keke Palmer to Host
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58 SZA is returning to Saturday Night Live as the musical guest on Dec. 3. The Grammy winner will perform during the upcoming episode hosted by Keke Palmer.
It will mark the first time Palmer hosts SNL. The multi-hyphenate entertainer went to Instagram to share her excitement about the new gig.
“I can’t wait!! The stage awaits @nbcsnl,” Palmer wrote.
SZA last performed on SNL in December 2017 to promote her debut album, Ctrl. She played her hit singles “Love Galore” and “The Weekend” during the James Franco-hosted episode.
At this time, it’s unclear what SZA will perform. She recently released her new single, “Shirt,” produced by Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins. It was rolled out with a Dave Meyers-directed video that co-stars actor LaKeith Stanfield.
“Shirt” debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart during the week of Nov. 12. It was her second-highest debut on the popular singles chart since “I Hate U.” The kiss-off anthem entered at No. 7 during the week of Dec. 18, 2021.
On Spotify, “Shirt” has garnered more than 38 million streams since releasing Oct. 28. Elsewhere, it’s No. 6 on the iTunes R&B/Soul singles chart at the time of publication.
SZA could potentially introduce “PSA,” a song teased in the outro of her “Shirt” music video. She recently shared an official teaser on YouTube.
All three songs mentioned above could appear on SZA’s unannounced sophomore album. The impending LP will follow her first proper album Ctrl, which celebrated its fifth anniversary in June. She honored the album with a special deluxe edition that featured seven unreleased songs.
“This is JUST a gift for camp ctrl . Nothing more nothing less . if u family you get it . 5 yrs is a long time . Thank you for changing my life I love you . Happy anniversary 🤍 #HAPPYCTRLANNIVERSARY,” SZA tweeted.
This is JUST a gift for camp ctrl . Nothing more nothing less . if u family you get it . 5 yrs is a long time . Thank you for changing my life I love you . Happy anniversary 🤍 #HAPPYCTRLANNIVERSARY
— SZA (@sza) June 9, 2022
SZA’s “I Hate U” is nominated for The Ashford and Simpson Songwriter’s Award at the 2022 Soul Train Awards. She is also up for Best R&B/Soul Female Artist.
Additionally, SZA has two nominations at the 2022 American Music Awards, including Favorite R&B Female Artist and Favorite R&B Song (“I Hate U”).
As for Palmer, she recently launched a new podcast, Baby, This Is Keke Palmer, exclusively on Amazon Music. Blac Chyna joined Palmer as a guest on episode one.
In March, Palmer starred in the historical thriller, Alice, inspired by the actual events of an enslaved woman escaping to freedom after living under the iron fist of a harsh master in rural Georgia.
Over the summer, Palmer returned to the silver screen in Jordan Peele’s Nope. Daniel Kaluuya and Brandon Perea were also part of the sci-fi horror film.
Palmer’s work in Nope landed her two nominations at the 2022 People’s Choice Awards, including the Female Movie Star of 2022 and the Drama Movie Star of 2022.
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