Kanye West Performs Highlights, Ultralight Beam on Saturday Night Live

Kanye West stormed the “Saturday Night Live” stage with performances of “Highlights” and “Ultralight Beam” from his just-released album “The Life of Pablo.”
Both tunes featured backing vocals from R&B veteran El Debarge, gospel star Kirk Franklin, Chance the Rapper, Kelly Price and The-Dream. Both tunes were performed in front of a multimedia backdrop that was a departure for the NBC franchise’s musical performances. “Ultralight Beam” featured a host of additional backup singers.
The “SNL” performance came three days after West partially unveiled his seventh studio album in dramatic fashion with an event at Madison Square Garden in conjunction with the debut of his latest line of Yeezy-branded apparel for Adidas. The event was simulcast in movie theaters around the country and also streamed live via Tidal, the music streaming service run by Jay Z. He later made the full album available Saturday after the “SNL” broadcast.
Melissa McCarthy hosted the Feb. 13 edition of “Saturday Night Live.”
Popular on Variety
Read More About:
Jump to CommentsMore from Variety
Tim Walz and JD Vance Hold Civil Debate on Immigration, Economy and Jan. 6
Generative AI & Licensing: A Special Report
Candice Bergen, Selena Gomez Mock JD Vance’s ‘Childless Cat Ladies’ Comments at Emmys
Tim Walz and Anthony Ramos Talk High School Theater Programs and How ‘Hamilton’ Helped Drive Voter Registration (EXCLUSIVE)
Flaws in Guilds’ Success-Based Streaming Residual Already Clear
Tim Walz-JD Vance Debate: How to Watch the VP Debate Live Online
Most Popular
Inside the 'Joker: Folie à Deux' Debacle: Todd Phillips ‘Wanted Nothing to Do’ With DC on the $200 Million Misfire
‘Kaos’ Canceled After One Season at Netflix
‘Menendez Brothers’ Netflix Doc Reveals Erik’s Drawings of His Abuse and Lyle Saying ‘I Would Much Rather Lose the Murder Trial Than Talk About Our…
Saoirse Ronan Says Losing Luna Lovegood Role in ‘Harry Potter’ Has ‘Stayed With Me Over the Years’: ‘I Was Too Young’ and ‘Knew I Wasn't Going to Get…
‘Joker 2’ Axed Scene of Lady Gaga’s Lee Kissing a Woman at the Courthouse Because ‘It Had Dialogue in It’ and ‘Got in the Way’ of a Music…
Kathy Bates Won an Oscar and Her Mom Told Her: ‘You Didn't Discover the Cure for Cancer,’ So ‘I Don't Know What All the Excitement Is About…
Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried to Star in ‘The Housemaid’ Adaptation From Director Paul Feig, Lionsgate
Kamala Harris Cracks Open a Miller High Life With Stephen Colbert on ‘The Late Show’
‘Skyfall’ Director Sam Mendes Says James Bond Studio Prefers Filmmakers ‘Who Are More Controllable’: ‘I Would Doubt’ I’d…
Christopher Nolan’s Next Movie: Matt Damon in Talks to Star in Universal Film Set for Summer 2026
Must Read
- Film
COVER | Sebastian Stan Tells All: Becoming Donald Trump and Starring in 2024’s Most Controversial Movie
By Andrew Wallenstein 3 weeks
- TV
Menendez Family Slams Netflix’s ‘Monsters’ as ‘Grotesque’ and ‘Riddled With Mistruths’: ‘The Character Assassination of Erik and Lyke Is Repulsive…
- TV
‘Yellowstone’ Season 5 Part 2 to Air on CBS After Paramount Network Debut
- TV
50 Cent Sets Diddy Abuse Allegations Docuseries at Netflix: ‘It’s a Complex Narrative Spanning Decades’ (EXCLUSIVE)
- Shopping
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Sets Digital and Blu-ray/DVD Release Dates
Sign Up for Variety Newsletters
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Variety Confidential
ncG1vNJzZmiukae2psDYZ5qopV9nfXKCjq2taKaVrMBwt8CnsJ5lp5rAtXnHop6hpJmctbV51KWrq5ldobaotNNmmZ6ZnWLAosDUq5uasV2jtqi002ajoq6VYn5zfJBwZ29oZ2V8