Days after Adam Sandler’s touching performance at Saturday Night Live’s 50th Anniversary Special, fans are still talking about his heartfelt tribute. As part of the celebration of the legendary show’s history, Sandler took the stage with an acoustic guitar, donning a black tuxedo, to perform a musical tribute that honored the program’s original cast.
The 58-year-old actor sang a song highlighting important figures like Dennis Miller, Billy Crystal, and SNL creator Lorne Michaels. His tribute struck a deep chord when he mentioned late cast members, too.
Adam Sandler tears up as he remembers late Chris Farley and Norm Macdonald
Adam Sandler’s Song: 50 Years #SNL50 pic.twitter.com/tACkE3xNiJ
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) February 17, 2025
Sandler’s performance reached an emotional high when he sang about Chris Farley and Norm Macdonald, two comedians whose untimely deaths still weigh on him. Sandler did a brief pause when he reached the line that referenced both late stars as he needed a moment to fight back some tears. Farley died first from a drug overdose in 1997 at the age of 33.
He was discovered in his Chicago apartment by his younger brother, John, while Macdonald passed away more recently in 2021 following a battle with cancer which he kept under wraps. Sandler, who has performed songs in Farley’s honor before during his stand-up comedy shows, revealed in 2022 that paying tribute to Farley still brings him immense pain.
Fans react to Adam Sandler’s performance at ‘SNL 50’
Fans were moved by Sandler’s tribute and flocked to social media right after. Several viewers shared how seeing Sandler nearly break down while mentioning Farley and Macdonald struck them deeply. “Seeing him getting misty-eyed when mentioning Chris Farley and Norm Macdonald really tore at me,” someone wrote, while another said they never thought Adam Sandler could make them cry. “…yet here we are,” they quipped.
Many fans noted the subtle halt in his performance when he mentioned Farley’s name, noting that Sandler is probably still getting over the late icon’s absence nearly three decades past.