Adam Sandler Tears Up Mentioning Chris Farley and Norm Macdonald During Musical Tribute at “SNL”'s 50th Special

The actor's acoustic performance featured a special shoutout to some of SNL's most beloved late cast members

Adam Sandler got emotional during his musical tribute to Saturday Night Live.

The actor, 58, performed a special song to commemorate 50 years of the sketch comedy show, on which he appeared as a cast member from 1990 to 1995.

Sandler was introduced by Jack Nicholson ahead of his acoustic performance on SNL50: The Anniversary Special in New York City. The song, called, "50 Years," joked about the highs and lows of SNL and paid tribute to its cast and what the show has provided to pop culture.

"Everybody in this room has something in common/ all of our lives were changed by the show / Everybody in this room has something else in common / None of us were allowed to use the little bathroom in Lorne [Michael]'s office," he began.

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Adam Sandler's Song: 50 Years #SNL50 pic.twitter.com/tACkE3xNiJ— Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) February 17, 2025

Related: Adam Sandler Reveals He Was 'Really Upset' Rehearsing for Chris Farley' Saturday Night Live' Tribute

The song gave shout outs to the SNL crew, including the show's nurse and Wally, the cue card handler. At one point, Sandler sings, "50 years of young comedians getting hired for the show/ From stand up Groundlings, Second City, and all the rest/ 50 years of cast members saying, 'I think our cast is the greatest of all time'/ But we all know that the first cast was the best."

Sandler then went into all the wonderful years we got with different talents who graced casts throughout the decades. At the end of the list, he emotionally concluded, "Six years of our boy Farley and five of our buddy Norm/ 50 Years of one of us getting to say/ 'Live from New York, it's Saturday night'/ 50 years of standing on home base/ waving goodnight and goodbye/ 50 years of the best times of our lives."

Viewers noted how a tearful Sandler took a breath as he sang about late costars Chris Farley and Norm Macdonald.

Sandler has performed a song in Farley's honor before, during his Adam Sandler Live stand-up comedy shows. In 2022 he admitted it still makes him "so emotional" to pay tribute to his late friend, who died in 1997 at age 33.

During SNL's 50th anniversary celebrations, Sandler made an appearance on Friday, Feb. 14 at the show's musical event, SNL50: The Homecoming Concert. He was joined on stage by fellow former SNL cast members, as well as a variety of other stars.

Beforehand, he walked the carpet with his wife Jackie Sandler, 50, and the couple put on a loved-up display sharing a passionate kiss.

SNL50: The Anniversary Special airs Sunday, Feb. 16, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock