Cher returned to Saturday Night Live as the musical guest on the December 20, 2025 season finale, hosted by Ariana Grande, marking her first full musical appearance on the show since 1987. The 79-year-old pop icon performed two festive tracks from her 2023 holiday album Christmas, opening with the upbeat “DJ Play a Christmas Song” and later delivering a spirited rendition of the Chuck Berry classic “Run Rudolph Run” on the SNL stage in Studio 8H in New York.
Cher’s performances came amid a star-studded episode that featured Grande’s holiday-themed monologue, various comedy sketches, and the farewell of longtime cast member Bowen Yang. The holiday set also included festive visuals, dancers, and audience applause as Cher brought her signature presence to the year-end broadcast.
Her appearance highlighted tracks from her 27th studio album, which blends original songs and seasonal classics and has been part of her ongoing holiday promotions. Some viewers on social media debated aspects of her performance, including speculation around the use of backing tracks, generating mixed reactions from audiences online.
Cher’s return to the SNL stage coincides with continued celebrations of her long career, as she remains active in music and holiday programming while bringing festive cheer to the show’s finale.
