And now, for a very special musical guest. Saturday Night Live will pay tribute to Prince on Saturday, April 23, with a retrospective look at the late music icon’s most memorable performances on the late-night show.
The special, titled “SNL Goodnight Sweet Prince,” will showcase the “Purple Rain” singer’s most electrifying appearances on the sketch-comedy series, including his most recent role as musical guest in 2014, during which he performed an unprecedented medley/jam before the live studio audience.
Prince also previously performed on the show in 2006, 1989 and 1981. In 1989, he wowed viewers with “Electric Chair” from the Batman soundtrack as part of SNL’s 15th anniversary.
In addition to Prince’s four appearances on the show over the years, he has been impersonated even more frequently, most memorably by Fred Armisen, who played the “When Doves Cry” singer as the host for the “Prince Show” sketch.
Not that the artist dislikes comedy. In a 1999 VH1 interview with Chris Rock, in fact, Prince told the funnyman that he has been largely influenced by the work of comedians.
“Comedians had a great deal of an impact on my music, I think,” he said at the time. “It was always a challenge to have some sort of humor in a song and to make somebody feel good. That is the biggest challenge.”
“SNL Goodnight Sweet Prince” will air on Saturday, April 23, at 11:30 p.m. EST on NBC.
