Role Model had a surprise in store for his Saturday Night Live musical guest debut.
The 28-year-old singer-songwriter, born Tucker Pillsbury, appeared on the Oct. 11 episode of the long-running NBC sketch comedy show to perform two tracks from the deluxe edition of his second album, Kansas Anymore.
After an introduction from host — and former SNL cast member — Amy Poehler, Role Model opened with his breakout hit, “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out,” which recently reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart.
Set against a moody barnyard backdrop, complete with haystacks and a wooden ladder, he took the stage in a brown shirt and sparkly blue jeans to deliver the upbeat track. In previous live performances, he’s brought celebrities and fans alike — including Natalie Portman, Olivia Rodrigo and Troye Sivan — to step in as “Sally.”
His SNL debut followed suit. Mid-song, he called out, “Where’s my Sally tonight?” and to the crowd’s surprise, Charli XCX strutted onstage wearing a black skirt, dark sunglasses and a “Max’s Kansas City” T-shirt. The two shared a playful moment, dancing together before Charli slipped her sunglasses onto Role Model’s face, blew him a kiss, and made her exit.
Some fans speculated that the pop star’s T-shirt might be a subtle jab at Swift, who frequently visits Kansas City with her fiancé, Travis Kelce. Amid ongoing rumors of tension between Charli and Swift, the speculation intensified with the release of Swift’s new track “Actually Romantic” from her latest album, The Life of a Showgirl. Some listeners have interpreted it as a response to Charli’s song “Everything Is Romantic” from Brat.
For his second SNL performance, Role Model slowed things down with the mellow track “Some Protector,” delivering an emotional rendition while strumming an acoustic guitar.
Watch Role Model’s SNL performances below. See all the options to watch the show here.