“We all stopped when she started singing,” Hader said. “We opened the curtain and everyone looked down, and we were all like, ‘Who is that?’” At the time, Adele wasn’t widely known in the U.S., but her powerful voice quickly captivated the SNL cast.
The documentary includes behind-the-scenes footage showing Adele's nervousness during her first promo shoot. “Should I look in the camera, where am I looking?” she asked, laughing. “I’m just kind of looking lost!”
Adele performed "Chasing Pavements" and "Cold Shoulder" from her debut album, 19, on SNL in October 2008. That performance played a key role in her breakthrough in the U.S. Lorne Michaels, SNL’s creator, shared how Adele’s popularity skyrocketed after the show. Despite the attention surrounding Sarah Palin’s appearance on the same episode, Adele’s music quickly gained traction. “She went from number 45 to almost number 1 on the charts,” Michaels recalled.
Although 19 had already seen major success in the UK, Adele’s appearance on SNL was the turning point in her American career. The episode, which also featured guest Josh Brolin, was one of the highest-rated of the decade, and Adele's album shot to the top of the iTunes charts the day after it aired.
Adele herself reflected on the sudden rise to fame in the documentary, admitting it was like an “overnight success.” “It literally happened overnight,” she said, recalling how her life changed in the blink of an eye.
Dua Lipa, also featured in the documentary, praised the power of the SNL stage in launching careers. “After she performed here, her whole career took off in America,” said Lipa. “SNL gives artists the confidence and excitement to keep going."
Adele’s SNL debut remains a defining moment in her career, proving how the iconic stage can help turn emerging artists into household names.
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