For 50 years, “Saturday Night Live” has kept us rocking as well as roaring.
And the musical legacy of the sketch-comedy juggernaut will be celebrated Friday night with “SNL50: The Homecoming Concert,” which will be streaming live from New York’s Radio City Music Hall on Peacock.
An all-star lineup of performers includes Lady Gaga, Cher, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Dave Grohl, Miley Cyrus, Jack White, Eddie Vedder, Chris Martin, Bad Bunny, Post Malone, Jelly Roll, David Byrne and Arcade Fire.
Before the historic concert begins at 8 p.m. ET, we look back on some major music milestones and moments in “SNL” history.
21 Billy Preston fired up the keyboards as one of two musical guests on the 1975 premiere of “Saturday Night Live.” NBCUniversal via Getty Images
21 Janis Ian was one of two musical guests when “Saturday Night Live” premiered on Oct. 11, 1975. NBCUniversal via Getty Images
—There were not one but two musical guests when “SNL” debuted on Oct. 11, 1975: funk-soul legend Billy Preston and folk goddess Janis Ian.
21 Dave Grohl was on drums with Nirvana when they performed on “SNL” in 1993. NBCUniversal via Getty Images
21 Dave Grohl led Foo Fighters in one of his 16 “SNL” musical guest appearances in 2017. NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
—Dave Grohl has racked up the most appearances as musical guest with a sweet 16: nine times with Foo Fighters, twice with Nirvana, once with Them Crooked Vultures, and once as drummer for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
21 Justin Timberlake (standing, third from left) joined the “SNL” Five Timers Club in 2013. NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
—Justin Timberlake is the only musician join the Five-Timers Club as host, earning his jacket in 2013. Three of those times he pulled double duty as musical guest, while on another occasion he performed one song with musical guest Ciara.
21 After appearing as musical guest twice in the first season of “SNL,” Phoebe Snow returned with Linda Ronstadt in 1979. NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
—Folk songbird Phoebe Snow was the first musical guest to appear multiple times, performing on two episodes of the first season.
21 “SNL” creator offered The Beatles $3000 to reunite for a performance in a 1976 sketch. NBCUniversal via Getty Images
21 Paul McCartney (left) and John Lennon (third from left) nearly took Lorne Michaels up on his “SNL” offer for The Beatles. Getty Images
—In a sketch on April 24, 1976 “SNL” creator offered The Beatles $3000 to reunite and perform on the show. John Lennon and Paul McCartney almost took him up on his offer and made a surprise appearance.
21 Paul Simon was musical guest on “SNL” in 1976 and has doubled up as host four times. NBCUniversal via Getty Images
—Paul Simon was the first to serve as both host and musical guest in 1975, and it’s a juggling act that he he pulled off three other times, most recently in 1987.
21 Miley Cyrus has pulled double duty as host and musical guest of “SNL” twice. NBCUniversal via Getty Images
21 Drake did his first of two stints as host and musical guest of “SNL” in 2014. NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
–Britney Spears, Drake, Jennifer Lopez, Miley Cyrus and Garth Brooks have twice doubled up as host and musical guest of “SNL.” Drake was the last to do it in 2016.
21 Debbie Harry was host and musical guest on “SNL” in 1981. NBCUniversal via Getty Images
21 Funky 4 + 1 More gave the first rap performance on national TV on “SNL” in 1981. NBCUniversal via Getty Images
—When Debbie Harry was host and musical guest on Feb. 14, 1981, she brought in the Bronx hip-hop group Funky 4 + 1 More to also rock the stage, marking the first rap performance on national television.
21 Queen gave their final US performance on “SNL” in 1982. NBCUniversal via Getty Images
—Queen gave its final US performance and first on “SNL” on Sept. 25, 1982, nine years before frontman Freddie Mercury died in 1991. The British rock gods did “Crazy Little Thine Called Love” and “Under Pressure.”
21 Sinead O’Connor controversially ripped into the Catholic Church on “SNL” in 1992. Getty Images
—In one of the most controversial “SNL” moments ever, musical guest Sinead O’Connor ripped up a photo of Pope John Paul II during her a cappella rendition of Bob Marley’s “War.” It was a shocking protest of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.
21 Leon Pendarvis Getty Images for The Recording Academy
—Leon Pendarvis is the longest-serving member of the “Saturday Night Live” band, having resided behind the keyboards since 1980.
21 Ashlee Simpson was caught in a lip-synching scandal on “SNL” in 2004. NBCUniversal via Getty Images
—It wasn’t live on that infamous Saturday night in 2004 when Ashlee Simpson was caught lip-syncing during her performance of “Autobiography.”
21 Elvis Costello switched songs midway through his performance on “SNL” in 1977. NBCUniversal via Getty Images
—Making his debut as musical guest in 1977, Elvis Costello started off playing “Less Than Zero” before he abruptly stopped and changed his tune to “Radio Radio” midway through this performance.
21 Miles Davis performed with his back to the camera on “SNL” in 1981. NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
—Nobody could ever be cooler than Miles Davis, but when he the trumpet legend appeared as musical guest in 1981, even he couldn’t pull off playing with his back to the camera.
21 Adam Sandler performed “The Chanukah Song” on “SNL” in 2002. NBCUniversal via Getty Images
—After Adam Sandler first performed “The Chanukah Song” on “Weekend Update” in December 1994, the song went on to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 80.
21 Andy Samberg and Justin Timberlake performed “D–k in a Box” on “SNL” in 2006. ©NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection
–The Lonely Island featuring Justin Timberlake made a risqué movie when they performed “D–k in a Box” in a 2006 “SNL” digital short, and they were rewarded for their raunchiness with an Emmy for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics in 2007.