Paul Simon and Sabrina Carpenter Open SNL's 50th Anniversary Special with Nostalgic Duet
Paul Simon and Sabrina Carpenter opened the 50th anniversary special of Saturday Night Live with a heartfelt performance of Simon & Garfunkel’s 1966 classic, “Homeward Bound.” The duet took place during SNL50: The Anniversary Celebration, a three-hour live event broadcast from New York on Sunday, February 16, 2025. Simon, 83, a longtime fixture of the show since its inception in 1975, shared the stage with 25-year-old pop star Sabrina Carpenter, who humorously noted, “I was not born then… and neither were my parents,” when Simon mentioned performing the song with George Harrison on SNL in 1976.
The performance was a nostalgic nod to Simon’s enduring connection to the show, which has been a cultural touchstone for decades. The anniversary special also featured appearances by a star-studded lineup of SNL alumni, including Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Eddie Murphy, Will Ferrell, and Kristen Wiig, among others. Musical guests for the evening included Paul McCartney, Bad Bunny, and Miley Cyrus, though it remains unclear if all performed live.
The event celebrated SNL’s 50-year legacy as a launching pad for comedians and a platform for iconic musical performances. The show has remained a staple of American television, blending political satire, pop culture commentary, and comedy sketches that continue to resonate with audiences across generations. The anniversary special also highlighted the show’s ability to adapt and thrive in the streaming era, with sketches and monologues regularly garnering millions of views online.
The evening concluded with a sense of reverence for SNL’s impact on entertainment, as stars from across its history gathered to honor the show’s enduring influence. Simon and Carpenter’s opening performance set the tone for a night that celebrated both the past and present of one of television’s most beloved institutions.
Watch Paul McCartney, Sabrina Carpenter, Paul Simon, and More Perform at SNL50: The Anniversary Special
Miley Cyrus, Brittany Howard, Lil Wayne, and even more special guests graced the Studio 8H stage to celebrate the legendary sketch comedy show’s legac
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Sabrina Carpenter, Paul Simon Perform Tender 'Homeward Bound' to Open 'SNL50'
Sabrina Carpenter and Paul Simon opened 'SNL50: The Anniversary Special' with 'Homeward Bound' on Sunday.
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Paul Simon and Sabrina Carpenter open the 'Saturday Night Live' 50th anniversary celebration
Paul Simon and Sabrina Carpenter open the 'Saturday Night Live' 50th anniversary celebration
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Sabrina Carpenter and Paul Simon Open ‘SNL50’ With Emotional Performance of ‘Homeward Bound’
The star-studded SNL50: The Anniversary Special opened with a moving duet from Sabrina Carpenter and Paul Simon.
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Sabrina Carpenter and Paul Simon Perform 'Homeward Bound' to Kick Off SNL's 50th Anniversary Special
Sabrina Carpenter and Paul Simon kicked off 'SNL50: The Anniversary Special' with an acoustic version of the crooner's hit song Homeward Bound on Sund
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Sabrina Carpenter & Paul Simon Open ‘SNL50’ Anniversary Special With ‘Homeward Bound’
Sabrina Carpenter and Paul Simon performed a duet of Homeward Bound to kick off 'SNL50: The Anniversary Special' Sunday night (Feb. 16).
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Sabrina Carpenter and Paul Simon Perform “Homeward Bound” to Open ‘SNL’ 50th Anniversary Special
The Grammy winners performed a touching duet of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Homeward Bound,” which he sang on the show decades earlier in 1976.
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Watch Paul Simon & Sabrina Carpenter Perform “Homeward Bound” On SNL’s 50th Anniversary Special
Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary festivities have already given us Nirvana x Post Malone, a Joanna Newsom sighting, and the revelation that crea
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