Ariana Grande Hosts SNL, Mocks Katy Perry, Nails Celine Dion Impression
On her hosting debut, Grande playfully spoofed Katy Perry before delivering a Celine Dion impression with James Austin Johnson as Bocelli during a Cher-filled episode.
Ariana Grande hosted Saturday Night Live on the latest episode, delivering a series of sketches that highlighted her impressions and comic timing, with Cher appearing as the musical guest. The show leaned into holiday-themed humor and pop-culture parody as Grande opened the night with performances and fast-paced skits that paired music history with current pop icons.
In a standout segment, Grande and Johnson staged a neon-lit, over-the-top Random Duet Christmas Spectacular that imagined unlikely holiday duets with today’s big-name stars. Grande played Katy Perry, wearing a long dark wig and an astronaut suit—a visual nod, the sketch suggested, to Perry’s earlier Blue Origin space flight. James Austin Johnson portrayed Bob Dylan, contributing spoken-word verses and altered lyrics such as it’s in space as the duo traded lines about a celestial Christmas. The performance leaned into Perry’s 2010s pop anthems, with Grande delivering a playful, high-energy impression of Perry as she teased the singer’s spaceflight and pop persona.
As the sketch progressed, Grande intensified her impersonation, belting out Baby you're a Christmas tree! to the tune of Perry’s Firework while mimicking Perry’s voice. Johnson then added a chorus of Went to outer space, reinforcing the theme of space-age celebrity antics. The bit culminated with Grande shifting gears to a tribute within the same frame where she portrayed Celine Dion, while Johnson played Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. The two performers joined onstage in a moment that recalled Dion and Bocelli’s famous collaborations, including The Prayer.
Grande wore a shimmering silver dress for the Dion segment, and Johnson appeared in a white suit that mirrored the pair’s onstage looks from the historical performance. The pair later sang a holiday version of The Prayer, with Grande nailing Dion’s signature high notes as the duo delivered a moment of reverence amid the humor. In the wider sketch, the SNL cast pushed further into music-artist impressions, with other members stepping into the shoes of luminaries for additional holiday duets.
Sarah Sherman delivered a Kate Bush impression, while Bowen Yang channeled Yoko Ono. Kenan Thompson took on Stevie Wonder opposite Benson Boone, a riff that included a playful backflip gag as the onstage piano became a focal point of the chaos. Other impersonations included Bruce Springsteen, Bad Bunny, Bjork and Post Malone, illustrating how the cast leaned into a parade of star identities to close out the sketch and the night.
The finale of the skit featured a voiceover promising the Random Duet Christmas Spectacular, coming to Peacock December 33rd — What? That can’t be right, a line that had social media users responding with a mix of amused disbelief and praise for Grande’s impressions. Fans flooded X with reactions such as Ariana imitating Katy—stop and Ariana as Celine Dion—perfect, underscoring the episode’s viral appeal.
Grande has a history of flamboyant celebrity impressions, including a 2015 appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon’s Wheel of Musical Impressions, where she portrayed Dion, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. She also leaned into impersonations last year when hosting SNL, riffing as Jennifer Coolidge in a spoof tied to Maybelline makeup. The latest episode continued that practice, combining star-studded parody with live performances by Cher.