A few of music’s biggest rising stars are getting big breaks this fall, with Saturday Night Live announcing Friday (Oct. 17) that Sombr and Olivia Dean will make their musical guest debuts on upcoming episodes.

Sombr will perform on the episode airing Nov. 8, which Nikki Glaser will host. The week prior, Miles Teller will helm an episode airing Nov. 1, with Brandi Carlile serving as musical guest for the third time in her career.

Then, Dean will perform at 30 Rock on Nov. 15. Teller’s Top Gun: Maverick costar Glen Powell is set to host for the first time.

The news comes as both Sombr and Dean’s careers are taking off. The former’s breakout hit “Back to Friends” made him a Gen Z alt-pop sensation, peaking at No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100. He’s currently riding the success of his debut album, I Barely Know Her, which helped propel him to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Songwriter’s Chart.

The latter is one of the most promising singer-songwriters of 2025, earning critical acclaim for her new album, The Art of Loving. So far, the project has reached a peak of No. 7 on the Billboard 200, and Dean is currently on tour in support of the LP.

The trio of new musical guest announcements mark just the latest stars SNL has booked for this season. This weekend, Sabrina Carpenter will make her debut as host in addition to performing tracks from her Billboard 200-topping album Man’s Best Friend.

Bad Bunny also returned to SNL to host for a second time on Oct. 4, while Role Model recently made his musical guest debut.

Morgan Wallen delivers his 19th career No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart as “I Got Better” rises two spots to top the Oct. 25-dated survey, up 13% to 32.7 million audience impressions Oct. 10-16, according to Luminate.

The Joey Moi-produced single — with seven cowriters including Wallen, Ernest, HARDY and Blake Pendergrass — becomes the fifth No. 1 from Wallen’s album I’m the Problem, released in May. One more chart-topper from the set and he’d match the six from his 2023 LP, One Thing at a Time, which remains tied for the one-album record (discounting deluxe editions) with Luke Bryan’s 2015 Kill the Lights.

Boosting the profile of “I Got Better,” its official video premiered Oct. 1.

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I’m the Problem has led Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart for its first 21 weeks, followed at Nos. 2 and 3, respectively, on the Oct. 18-dated ranking by One Thing at a Time and Wallen’s 2021 release, Dangerous: The Double Album. Together, the three projects form one of the most formidable runs in modern country music history, combining for 205 weeks at No. 1 (with a record 97 frames at the summit belonging to Dangerous).

Before topping Country Airplay, “I Got Better” completed a full-format sweep, hitting No. 1 on the Oct. 18 Hot Country Songs chart thanks to 13.2 million official U.S. streams, 31 million in radio audience and 1,000 sold. The win gave I’m the Problem four leaders on the list, equaling the output of One Thing at a Time.

Above the Chimney Tops

Lainey Wilson breaks into the Country Airplay top 10 (12-10) with “Somewhere Over Laredo” rising 9% to 16 million in audience. The song, which interpolates “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from the iconic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, is her ninth top 10. It’s from the September deluxe edition of her 2024 album, Whirlwind.

It’s college homecoming season once again, and Interscope Geffen A&M Records is releasing the next vinyl-exclusive album in its ongoing yearlong HBCU campaign: Homecoming SZN Compilation Vol. 2. This year, the label is partnering with Hampton University, Clark Atlanta University, and Alabama State University for immersive activations during their festivities.

Homecoming SZN Compilation Vol. 2  — whose covers feature custom vinyl artwork designed for each university — includes hits from Kendrick Lamar (“TV Off”), GloRilla (“BOP”), Rob49 (“WTHelly”) and Eve (“Tambourine”). A special consumer edition is also available at select retailers and on the project’s website. In turn, Interscope will donate $3 from each vinyl sale to the corresponding university. The label will also provide funding to support various initiatives across the campuses.

“Homecoming is a treasured tradition at Hampton University, celebrating our history, culture and community,” said Hampton University president Darrell K. Williams in a statement. “We are excited to partner with Interscope Geffen A&M Records to bring this innovative Homecoming SZN initiative to our campus. Music has always been a powerful bridge between generations, and this collaboration gives our students a chance to showcase their creativity while connecting with a legacy that extends far beyond our campus.”

Launched last October, Interscope’s HBCU campaign initially partnered with Howard University, Tennessee State University and Texas Southern University. In honor of the campaign’s first anniversary and the release of its second compilation, the label will mark the start of homecoming week with a pop-up student event at Howard University on Oct. 22. A celebrity DJ set by DJ Blaccmass, giveaways and surprise appearances by Interscope artists are among the festivities.

From there, the initiative moves to Clark Atlanta University, which will feature a performance by Big Boogie (also on the compilation with “BOP”) at the college’s official homecoming concert on Oct. 22 plus a pop-up takeover on homecoming weekend Oct. 24-25. 1824, the culture marketing and creative strategy team of Interscope parent Universal Music Group, will also take student applications for part-time work roles at each university. Additional university partnerships and spring 2026 activations will be announced in the coming months.

“We’re thrilled to build on the momentum of Vol. 1 and expand this meaningful initiative to even more HBCU campuses,” stated Laura Carter, exec. vp/head of urban marketing, Interscope Geffen A&M Records. “HBCUs have been a bedrock of culture and creativity, and this initiative is about honoring that legacy.”