Cher and Kelly Clarkson pulling double duty on Saturday Night Live? Count Bowen Yang (and us) in.
Appearing on The Kelly Clarkson Show, the longtime featured player has seen veteran and new hosts alike take over Studio 8H through the years. But there is one powerhouse singer — or rather, two — who sit atop his wish list.
“Well, my white whale has always been Cher,” the Wicked actor said.
Clarkson agreed: “She’s hilarious!” (If her interviews through the years and recent Chicken Shop Date appearance are any indication, we concur. While Cher has been a point of reference, parody and impersonation throughout her storied and awarded singing and acting careers, she has never hosted the NBC sketch comedy show. In 1987, she was a musical guest alongside host Candice Bergen and made a cameo appearance on a 1992 episode with host Nicolas Cage and musical guest Bobby Brown.)
Yang continued, “She’s so funny! And since you two have a single coming out, I feel like you and Cher coming on together would blow my mind,” referencing the duo’s “DJ Play a Christmas Song” — originally the “Believe” singer’s lead track off of her 2023 Christmas album, which was eventually remixed earlier this month with Clarkson following her various covers of it.
“I love that song so much,” the “Since U Been Gone” singer said. “I was so much her street team, I think she felt obligated to ask me. I was singing it everywhere! I’m such a big fan of that song, but we released the dance remix version, but she let me sing on it and it was a dream come true. So I understand your Cher scenario.”
When Yang said his dream would only be complete if Clarkson joined Cher, she responded, “If Cher comes on, I just want to be the person who randomly walks in the back every once in a while,” which the Fire Island actor vehemently rejected: “No, Kelly!”
The Grammy winner demurred, saying that Cher’s Oscar-winning acting status makes her a suitable candidate and was in shock that she hasn’t served as host before.
“She’s never done it. Look, she can do every part in West Side Story, you know? Remember that?” Yang answered, referencing an often-forgotten piece of Cher lore, in which the multi-hyphenate sings and dances to a 12-minute-long medley of the musical’s tracks, portraying both male and female characters, as part of her 1978 self-titled ABC special.
Watch the moment below: