Sabrina Carpenter made her Saturday Night Live hosting debut this weekend — and she did it in true pop superstar fashion. Pulling double duty as both host and musical guest on the third episode of SNL Season 51 (October 18), Carpenter brought her quick wit, charisma, and hit songs to Studio 8H for a night full of energy, humor, and standout performances.
During her opening monologue, the 26-year-old singer wasted no time poking fun at the controversy surrounding the cover art of her latest album, Man’s Best Friend. “Some people got a little freaked out by the cover,” she joked. “I’m not sure why — it was just me on all fours with an unseen figure pulling my hair. But what people don’t realize is that’s just how they cropped it. If you zoom out, it’s clearly from the SNL 50th anniversary special — Bowen Yang was helping me up after Martin Short shoved me out of the buffet line.”
The lighthearted quip followed weeks of discussion about the album artwork online. Carpenter had already addressed the topic a few weeks ago, telling CBS Mornings that the imagery was “intentional, personal, and fitting for what the record represents.” She added, “Between me, my friends, and family, it wasn’t even a conversation. It was just like, it’s perfect for what the album is and what it represents.”
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In addition to her monologue, Carpenter appeared in several sketches, including a new installment of the fan-favorite Domingo series. The sketch featured her in a hilarious parody medley that mashed up Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia,” Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra,” and Alex Warren’s “Ordinary.”
When it came time to perform, Carpenter delivered two captivating live numbers from Man’s Best Friend. She first performed her chart-topping single “Manchild”, setting the stage ablaze with her commanding presence and silky vocals. Later in the night, she returned for a karate-themed “Nobody’s Son.”
Both tracks come from Man’s Best Friend, her biggest and most successful album to date. The record debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, moving 366,000 units in its first week and broke the Spotify record for the most streams in a single day by a female artist in 2025 (now held by Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl). The project also topped charts in over ten countries, including the U.K.
The album’s breakout single “Manchild” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking Carpenter’s first No. 1 debut and second chart-topper overall after “Please Please Please.” The song also won her an MTV Video Music Award.
Watch Sabrina Carpenter’s performances on SNL.
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