Olivia Rodrigo Debuts Unreleased 'Begged' on SNL Hosting Debut
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- Olivia Rodrigo made her SNL hosting debut on Saturday while also serving as musical guest, marking her first time leading the Lorne Michaels-created sketch show after two prior musical-guest appearances (2021 with Keegan-Michael Key, 2023 with Adam Driver).
- Rodrigo debuted an unreleased song called 'begged' off her third album 'you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love,' due June 12, performing it with backing from Weyes Blood in a stripped-down, somber tone that contrasted with the 'uproarious and scathing' lead single 'drop dead.'
- Lyrics from 'begged' included 'I could never leave / so I'm patiently learning / pretend it's not hurting' and ''Cause they say it''s a virtue / to not let good love slip away,' establishing a notably more vulnerable register than her prior singles.
- Connor Storrie of 'Heated Rivalry' made a surprise cameo to introduce Rodrigo''s second performance — a role reversal from late February, when Storrie himself hosted SNL and was joined by co-star Hudson Williams and the U.S. Olympic hockey teams.
- Debbie Harry of Blondie introduced Rodrigo''s first musical performance, while Aziz Ansari appeared in the Cold Open as FBI director Kash Patel, making for a cameo-heavy episode.
- Lead single 'drop dead' was released two weeks prior with a music video directed by Petra Collins at the Louvre, setting the visual and sonic template Rodrigo is now extending on the new album.
Why it matters: Rodrigo''s SNL hosting debut functioned as the launch event for her third album cycle, with the live debut of 'begged' giving the unreleased track immediate exposure days before the June 12 release and offering fans the first sustained preview of a tonal shift away from the pop-punk energy of 'drop dead.'
