Just a day after the highly anticipated 2026 Billboard Women in Music event, new promotional materials for Saturday Night Live have surfaced, featuring this weekend’s host and musical guest, Olivia Rodrigo. In a humorous twist, these promos, released by NBC, playfully revisit the 2022 Billboard Women in Music ceremony, highlighting a candid moment that has now become a source of comedic intrigue. The exchange, captured in the SNL promos, reveals a surprising prediction and a lighthearted wager made by SNL cast member Ashley Padilla regarding Rodrigo’s prestigious 2022 Woman of the Year honor.
The Unexpected Wager: A Look Back at 2022
The genesis of this playful exchange lies in the 2022 Billboard Women in Music Awards. At that pivotal event, Olivia Rodrigo, who was then a burgeoning pop sensation, was recognized as the Woman of the Year. This accolade followed her meteoric rise to fame, largely propelled by her debut single "drivers license," which dominated the Billboard Hot 100 chart for an impressive eight consecutive weeks. Her debut album, SOUR, further cemented her status as a dominant force in the music industry, achieving widespread critical acclaim and commercial success.
However, behind the scenes of this momentous occasion, not everyone was convinced of Rodrigo’s imminent recognition. In the SNL promo, Ashley Padilla directly addresses Rodrigo, asking, "Hey, Olivia: Did you bring your 2022 Billboard Women in Music Woman of the Year award?" Rodrigo’s nonchalant reply, "Uh, no. I left it at home," sets the stage for Padilla’s humorous confession. "Aw dang it, I was hoping to see it," Padilla retorts with a laugh. "I lost a lotttttttttttttttt of money betting against you on that one. No offense."
This revelation adds a layer of unexpected backstory to the 2022 award. While Rodrigo herself took the comment in stride, stating "none taken," her curiosity was piqued. She inquired, "Who’d you bet on?" Padilla’s answer illuminated a fascinating prescience, or perhaps a humorous miscalculation, about emerging talent. She revealed that she had anticipated the success of HUNTR/X’s EJAE, AUDREY NUNA & REI AMI, who were later recognized as Billboard’s 2026 Women of the Year. Padilla’s wager was evidently placed before the widespread recognition of these artists, and even before the release of certain cultural phenomena, as she wryly noted, "three years before KPop Demon Hunters even came out." Her self-deprecating conclusion, "I guess I was a fewwwwwwwww years early on that one," encapsulates the comedic irony of the situation.
"Sour Guts" and Artistic Resonance
The SNL promos also delve into another amusing connection between Padilla and Rodrigo. Padilla reveals a self-diagnosed "medical condition" she calls "Sour Guts," explaining that she "always really related" to Rodrigo due to the titles of her first two albums, SOUR and GUTS. This witty observation further amplifies the lighthearted and relatable nature of the promotional skit, drawing parallels between the comedian’s humorous affliction and the artist’s introspective and emotionally resonant music. The shared acknowledgment of these thematic elements, even in jest, underscores the impact of Rodrigo’s work on a broad audience, including those within the entertainment industry.
Olivia Rodrigo’s SNL Debut and New Music
This upcoming appearance marks a significant milestone for Olivia Rodrigo, as she is set to host Saturday Night Live for the first time. In addition to her hosting duties, she will also be performing as the musical guest for the third time. This dual role highlights her growing stature in popular culture and her versatility as an artist.
Rodrigo is currently in promotional mode for her highly anticipated third studio album, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love, slated for release on June 12. Fans have already received a taste of the new material with the release of her latest single, "Drop Dead." The song made a powerful debut, immediately ascending to the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week. The success of "Drop Dead" signals strong anticipation for the full album and suggests that Rodrigo continues to resonate with audiences through her distinctive lyrical style and musical prowess. It remains to be seen whether Rodrigo will debut any additional tracks from her upcoming album during her SNL performance, adding another layer of excitement for viewers.
Broadcast Details and Viewing Options
Saturday Night Live airs weekly on NBC at 11:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. PT. For those who prefer to stream the show, it is also available on Peacock. NBC has provided resources for viewers to explore all available options for watching SNL online, ensuring broad accessibility for fans eager to catch Rodrigo’s hosting and musical debut.
Contextualizing Billboard Women in Music
The Billboard Women in Music Awards, established in 2007, is an annual event that celebrates and honors women in the music industry. The ceremony recognizes artists, songwriters, producers, and executives for their significant contributions and achievements across various genres and roles within the music ecosystem. The "Woman of the Year" award, in particular, is one of the most prestigious honors bestowed, acknowledging an artist who has demonstrated exceptional artistic and commercial success, as well as a significant impact on the music landscape over the past year.
The 2022 ceremony, where Olivia Rodrigo was honored, took place during a period of significant cultural impact for the artist. Her debut album, SOUR, released in May 2021, was a critical and commercial phenomenon. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and spawned multiple hit singles, including "drivers license," "deja vu," and "good 4 u." The album’s success was not only measured in chart performance but also in its cultural resonance, with its candid exploration of heartbreak and adolescence striking a chord with a generation of listeners. Rodrigo’s win for Woman of the Year in 2022 was widely seen as a validation of her rapid ascent and her ability to connect with audiences on a deeply emotional level.
The mention of HUNTR/X’s EJAE, AUDREY NUNA & REI AMI as the 2026 Women of the Year highlights Billboard’s ongoing commitment to identifying and celebrating emerging and established female talent. These artists represent a diverse array of styles and influences, showcasing the evolving landscape of the music industry and the multifaceted contributions of women within it. The reference to "KPop Demon Hunters" suggests a potential future cultural touchstone or a fictional work that, in the context of the SNL sketch, serves as a humorous benchmark for Padilla’s prediction.
The interplay between the past recognition of Rodrigo and Padilla’s humorous anticipation of future honorees underscores the dynamic nature of the music industry and the often-unpredictable trajectory of artistic success. It also serves as a clever narrative device for SNL, allowing for a humorous yet insightful commentary on the world of music awards and the personalities that inhabit it. The promotion effectively blends the real-world achievements of Olivia Rodrigo with the comedic sensibilities of Saturday Night Live, creating anticipation for her upcoming appearance.
