KATSEYE Dominates SNL with Fiery Debut and Wild 'Dream Academy' Return
Global girl group KATSEYE made a significant return to Saturday Night Live, featuring in a comedic sketch and performing tracks from their latest EP, "Wild." The group's rapid ascent, originating from the Dream Academy competition, has led to multiple Billboard chart successes and Grammy nominations, solidifying their status as a global phenomenon.
The global girl group KATSEYE recently returned to Saturday Night Live (SNL) for a memorable appearance during the NBC sketch comedy show’s season 52 premiere on September 26.
The group captivated audiences through a dual engagement: a comedic cameo in a spoof sketch and a powerful musical performance.
In the highly anticipated “Dream Academy” sketch, which parodied the reality competition series that originally launched KATSEYE, four of the group’s six members participated as judges.
They oversaw a new, chaotically driven cohort of teenage contestants vying for pop stardom.
The sketch introduced new characters portrayed by SNL cast members, including Neelsa Boyce (Saidah Belo-Osagie), Isla (Veronika Slowikowska), Jamie (Sarah Sherman), Duff (Jane Wickline), and Margle (Grace Reiter).
These aspiring stars trained under the hilariously demanding choreographer Dorian Fylnt, played by SNL host and New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson.
Following a series of messy auditions and rehearsals, the contestants received praise from the season one champions, KATSEYE, for their “athleticism,” “talent,” “songs,” and “whatever this is.”
The sketch concluded with the unveiling of the contestants’ global music video debut, “Guardians of the Mist,” prominently featuring KATSEYE.
Beyond their comedic talents, KATSEYE also made their SNL debut as the episode’s musical guest. They delivered two dynamic performances from their latest EP, *Wild*, including the tracks “Animal” and “Hootie Frutti.”
Four of the group’s six members took the stage for this milestone performance, as Manon Bannerman and Sophia Laforteza are currently on hiatus to prioritize their mental health.
KATSEYE’s rapid ascent to global recognition began just two years prior, stemming from the reality competition series Dream Academy.
This innovative venture was a collaborative effort between K-pop powerhouse HYBE and Universal Music Group’s Geffen Records, designed to scout and develop a globally sourced girl group.
The six-member lineup, drawn from diverse backgrounds worldwide, released their debut EP, *SIS (Soft Is Strong)*, in 2024.
Their major breakthrough occurred the following year with their second EP, *Beautiful Chaos*, which achieved a No. 4 debut on the Billboard 200, marking their first top 10 entry and charting for over a year.
Its lead single, “Gnarly,” became KATSEYE’s inaugural entry on the Hot 100, followed by the Latin-pop single “Gabriela,” which climbed to No. 21, still holding the record for their highest-charting single to date.
This impressive run earned the group nominations for Best New Artist and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 68th annual Grammy Awards.
Their most recent EP, *Wild*, released in August, propelled them to a new commercial peak. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 170,000 first-week units, securing the group’s first chart-topper and achieving the biggest sales week for an all-female group in years.
The lead single “Animal,” co-written by Ed Sheeran, debuted at No. 24 on the Hot 100, marking a career high and their fifth consecutive solo single on the chart, following “Gnarly,” “Gabriela,” “Internet Girl,” and “Pinky Up.”
With over 30 million monthly Spotify listeners at various points this year, KATSEYE has firmly established itself as one of the most commercially successful girl groups globally.
Currently, KATSEYE is embarking on their 31-date Wildworld Tour, which commenced in Europe earlier this month.
The tour is slated to head to North America in October, beginning in Miami, traversing through Canada, and concluding in Mexico City in late November.