Meet the Members of ‘SNL’s Musical Guest Five-Timers Club
Everyone makes a big deal when a host fronts Saturday Night Live for the fifth time. Ever since Tom Hanks invented the Five-Timers Club — it was a bit for a monologue that no one expected to stand the test of time — a litany of stars have been fitted for their Five-Timers smoking jackets. In fact, what was once an exclusive club has become a crowded lounge, with 28 members among its ranks.
But you know who doesn’t get proper credit for SNL longevity? That’s the musical acts who’ve been invited back five times or more, a testament to longevity and popularity in an industry that makes both qualities difficult to sustain. Who are the 21 members of the SNL Musical Five-Timers Club? Glad you asked.
Paul Simon
For SNL music, Rhymin’ Simon is king. Lorne Michaels’ white-wine-sipping pal (50 mentions in Michaels’ new biography) led off the SNL50 anniversary show, has hosted the show four times and appeared as the musical guest — solo and with Art Garfunkel — a jaw-dropping 14 times.
Dave Grohl
Whether as a member of Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Them Crooked Vultures or even alongside Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Grohl has been a steady presence on SNL, appearing nine times as a musical guest and dropping in for musical comedy sketches in three others.
Chris Martin and Coldplay
Martin has been SNL’s musical guest eight times, once as a solo artist and seven more appearances with Coldplay.
Kanye
@globalmusicsource
Although he’s gone by several different names over the years, Kanye, in one form or another, is a seven-time SNL musical guest. But after his unexpected MAGA rant in 2019, he likely isn’t getting an invitation for an eighth seat at the party.
Eminem
Marshall Mathers has nine total SNL appearances under his belt, including seven as musical guest and a couple more goofing around with Pete Davidson.
Randy Newman
SNL has a friend in Newman, a six-time musical guest. Where are you hiding all those video clips, Lorne?
Beck
He may be a loser baby, but his six SNL appearances ought to be good for a smoking jacket.
Jack White
White has the interesting distinction of earning Musical Five-Timer status on the same night that Woody Harrelson became a five-time host — the only double-double (that I know of) in the show’s history.
Justin Timberlake
Timberlake deserves some kind of special award — he’s hosted SNL proper five times, appeared as a musical guest five times (four solo and once with N’SYNC), and cameoed in eight other episodes. And he made “Dick in a Box.” The only member of both Five-Timers Clubs.
Arcade Fire
The indie rockers have been musical guests five times, but I’ll always remember them for the sketch in which Tina Fey had to guess whether anonymous strangers were newly hired SNL cast members or Arcade Fire.
Miley Cyrus
It wouldn’t be a surprise if Cyrus eventually joined Timberlake as a double-five-timer (she’s hosted three times), but for now, she only qualifies as a five-time musical guest.
Sting
One appearance as host, one as both host and musical guest, and four times as musical guest only. Plus, a special award for enduring the Richmeister.
Rihanna
Rihanna is a five-time SNL musical guest and a two-time collaborator with Shy Ronnie.
James Taylor
Here’s a throwback for the moms: Sweet Baby James was a six-time musical guest.
Maroon 5
The group is a five-time musical guest — and that’s not counting Adam Levine’s hosting stint or solo appearances.
Lady Gaga
Gaga became a five-timer in 2025, acting as her own musical guest and delivering an all-time SNL vocal performance. Check it out!
Dave Matthews Band
Matthews qualifies, although this is a weird one — his band has five appearances, but one was with different band members. Factor in his solo musical guest appearance and he gets a jacket.
Gwen Stefani
Stefani has sung five times on Saturday Night Live — twice with No Doubt and three times as a solo act. Melissa Villasenor also did a killer Stefani impression in case she ever had to call in sick.
Harry Styles
Another hybrid five-timer, Styles guested three times with One Direction, twice as a solo artist and once as a host-slash-musical-guest.
Taylor Swift
Somehow, Swift has only done the host/musical guest thing once — you have to imagine Michaels is working the phones for a Season 50 appearance. She’s also got four musical guest appearances to qualify for the club.
Nick Jonas
The only cast member from the Disney Channel’s Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam to make this list, Nick has appeared four times with his brothers and twice as a solo artist.
