Saturday Night Live makes its return tonight for the show’s 44th season and by now, we’re all aware that Kanye West will be the musical guest however, the original guest was actually supposed to be Ariana Grande.

 

During Origins with James Andrew Miller podcast, SNL creator Lorne Michaels confirmed the news and explained that Ariana dropped out last minute due to ’emotional reasons’ and Kanye stepped up and took her place.  Lorne explained, “We had Ariana drop out for emotional reasons two days ago.  That’s our premiere, and then Kanye West stepped up, and he’ll be there.  So, the reach of the show and the number of people who will step forward is now somehow now, I think, probably at its peak.”  Kanye West will be the musical guest and Adam Driver will host.

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BoPug-kFptf/?hl=en&taken-by=nbcsnl

 

A source informed Us Weekly that ‘Ariana was only in talks to perform during the new SNL season and was never booked to perform the season premiere,’ either way, Kanye will be present.  For the last month, Ariana has been grieving for her ex-boyrfriend, Mac Miller who passed away due to an ‘apparent overdose.’  Check out Ariana’s recent Twitter post below.

 

https://twitter.com/ArianaGrande/status/1045425856406065154?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1045425856406065154&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.marieclaire.com%2Fcelebrity%2Fa23522227%2Fariana-grande-canceled-snl-appearance-emotional-reasons%2F

https://twitter.com/ArianaGrande/status/1045427588322283521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1045427588322283521&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.marieclaire.com%2Fcelebrity%2Fa23522227%2Fariana-grande-canceled-snl-appearance-emotional-reasons%2F

 

And of course, in true Kanye style, before even performing on the SNL stage, he sparked some controversy by saying he would’ve preferred if Louis C.K. was host on SNL rather than Adam Driver.

 

 

SNL premieres TONIGHT at 11:30PM!

 

Filed under: Ariana Grande, Kanye West, Saturday Night Live