Sabrina Carpenter Dominates SNL with Cheeky Humor and Electrifying Performances

Sabrina Carpenter pulled off an unforgettable double duty as host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live, delivering a night packed with laughs, viral moments, and her signature pop flair. If you missed it, get ready to dive into all the highlights!

TL;DR: The Quick Scoop

• Sabrina Carpenter hosted and performed as the musical guest on SNL's Season 51, Episode 3 on October 18, 2025.
• Her hilarious monologue tackled her "risque image" and poked fun at her controversial "Man's Best Friend" album cover.
• The fan-favorite "Domingo" sketch made a grand return as the cold open, featuring Carpenter herself in the drama.

Sabrina Carpenter Takes Over SNL: Hosting and Musical Guest Duties

Talk about a busy night! On October 18, 2025, pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter didn't just grace the iconic Studio 8H stage for Saturday Night Live; she owned it. Taking on the challenging "double duty" role, Sabrina hosted the show and performed as the musical guest for the third episode of SNL's 51st season. This wasn't her first rodeo at 30 Rock, but it was certainly her biggest spotlight yet.

Fans have been buzzing about Sabrina's comedic potential, especially given her background in sitcoms and her knack for witty, often innuendo-laden song lyrics. She's known for her playful stage persona, which translated perfectly to the live sketch comedy format. And boy, did she deliver!

Laughs and Levity: Sabrina's Iconic Monologue Moments

From the moment she stepped out for her monologue, Sabrina Carpenter didn't hold back. She immediately addressed her public image with a wink and a smile, tackling the "horndog pop star" label head-on.

"Everyone thinks of me as this, like, horndog pop star, but there’s really so much more to me. I’m not just horny. I’m also turned on and I’m sexually charged. And I love to read. My favorite book is the encyclopedia. It’s so big and it’s hard…"

— Sabrina Carpenter, SNL Monologue

She then bravely, and hilariously, brought up the controversial cover photo for her recent album, "Man's Best Friend." The image, which showed her on all fours with an "unseen figure pulling my hair," had raised some eyebrows. Sabrina's explanation? It was all about the crop! She revealed a "zoomed-out" version of the photo, showing Bowen Yang helping her up by the hair, "after Martin Short shoved me out of the buffet line" at the SNL 50th Anniversary special.

The monologue continued with her signature audience interaction, a staple of her live shows. She "loved talking to normal people," but quickly moved on when an audience member named Will from Maryland revealed he worked in "venture capital." And of course, no Sabrina Carpenter monologue would be complete without her "arresting someone for being hot" bit, which saw Kenan Thompson hilariously intervene with pink handcuffs for "falsely impersonating an officer 200 times at your concerts." She even joked about Cameo prices, quipping about $200,000 for a cameo and telling others to "find me on Venmo."

Bringing Back Fan Favorites: The Domingo Sketch Returns with a Twist

The night kicked off with a delightful surprise: the return of the incredibly viral "Domingo" sketch in the cold open! For those who've been living under a rock, the original "Domingo" sketch became an overnight sensation, racking up over 150 million views across NBC's social platforms. It centered around Chloe Fineman's character, Kelsey, and her friends confessing her infidelity with the smooth-talking Latin lover, Domingo, played by Marcello Hernández.

This time, Sabrina Carpenter joined the "Kelsquad" for Kelsey's husband Matt's (Andrew Dismukes) 30th birthday party. The group recounted their bachelorette-style trip to Nashville in song, spoofing popular tracks like Taylor Swift's "The Fate of Ophelia" and Lady Gaga's "Abracadabra." Naturally, Domingo himself (Marcello Hernández) made his grand, melodious entrance, set to Alex Warren's "Ordinary," to profess his "unordinary" love for Kelsey, complete with cheeky innuendos about taking vows and being "well-endowed." Sabrina was right there in the thick of the musical drama, adding her pop star energy to the beloved sketch.

It's worth noting that while Sabrina was part of this latest Domingo iteration and the "Domingo: Vow Renewal" sketch during the SNL50 special, she wasn't actually in the original viral sketch, which featured Ariana Grande. Still, her presence this time around was a full-circle moment, cementing her place in SNL lore.

Chart-Topping Tunes: Sabrina's Musical Performances on Stage

Beyond the laughs, Sabrina Carpenter dazzled as the musical guest, performing her No. 1 hit "Manchild." The stage was transformed into a whimsical bedroom, with Sabrina bouncing around on a bed in a yellow "SNL" T-shirt and pink "SNL" underwear, radiating girlish glee. Her performance was vibrant, playful, and perfectly encapsulated the cheeky energy she's known for.

This marked her second time as a musical guest on SNL. She first made her Studio 8H musical debut in May 2024 for the Season 49 finale, where she performed "Espresso" and "Feather / Nonsense." She also returned in February 2025 for the "SNL50" anniversary special, sharing a beautiful duet of "Homeward Bound" with the legendary Paul Simon. With her latest album, "Man's Best Friend," having debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in August, and hit singles like "Espresso" and "Please, Please, Please" under her belt, Sabrina proved why she's a force in the music world.

Behind the Scenes and Beyond: SNL Promos and Next Guests

Leading up to the show, Sabrina also starred in a series of hilarious promos that gave fans a taste of her comedic timing. She channeled Carrie Bradshaw in a "Sabrina in the City" sketch, parodying Sex and the City, complete with an unlit laptop and inner narration. She also teamed up with Marcello Hernández for a promo where she joked about "arresting someone for being too hot," ultimately "arresting" the cameraman.

The October 18 episode was the third consecutive new episode for Season 51. The season kicked off on October 4 with host Bad Bunny and musical guest Doja Cat, followed by Amy Poehler and Role Model on October 11. Unfortunately, cast member Bowen Yang missed Sabrina's episode to attend the 2025 Academy Museum Gala, where he received the Vantage Award.

After Sabrina's fantastic night, Saturday Night Live is taking a short break before returning with a fresh lineup of hosts and musical guests. Here's who to look forward to:

• November 1: Host Miles Teller, Musical Guest Brandi Carlile
• November 8: Host Nikki Glaser (debut), Musical Guest sombr
• November 15: Host Glen Powell (debut), Musical Guest Olivia Dean

Frequently Asked Questions About Sabrina Carpenter's SNL Appearance When did Sabrina Carpenter host Saturday Night Live? Sabrina Carpenter hosted and was the musical guest on Saturday, October 18, 2025. How can I watch Sabrina Carpenter's SNL episode? You can stream the full episode the day after it airs on Peacock. For live viewing, you could watch on NBC, or use live TV streaming services like Fubo or DirecTV, which often offer free trials. What songs did Sabrina Carpenter perform on SNL? Sabrina Carpenter performed her hit song "Manchild" during her musical guest segment on October 18. She previously performed "Espresso" and "Feather / Nonsense" in May 2024. What album did Sabrina Carpenter promote on SNL? She promoted her latest album, "Man's Best Friend," which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in August 2025. Sources for This Story

• Variety - Sabrina Carpenter Jokes About Provocative Image in ‘SNL’ Monologue: ‘I’m Not Just Horny, I’m Also Turned On and Sexually Charged’
• NBC Insider - Is Saturday Night Live New Tonight? Host, Musical Guest for October 18, 2025
• The Hollywood Reporter - ‘Saturday Night Live’ Season 51: Sabrina Carpenter’s Hosting Debut Kicks Off With Viral Domingo Skit Callback
• Page Six - Sabrina Carpenter on ‘SNL’: what to know
• Syracuse.com - Sabrina Carpenter on ‘Saturday Night Live’ Season 51, Episode 3: How to watch, free live stream
• TVLine - SNL Video: Domingo Returns To Sing Along With Sabrina Carpenter — Watch
• Mashable - Sabrina Carpenter channels 'Sex and the City' in 'SNL' promo
• Billboard - Sabrina Carpenter Teases ‘SNL’ Double Duty With Backstage Snapshots: See the Pics
• LateNighter - Sabrina Carpenter Hosts SNL: Five Storylines to Watch (S51 E3)
• LateNighter - Bowen Yang to Miss Tonight’s SNL