This past Friday, February 14, Saturday Night Live marked a milestone by celebrating its 50th anniversary with a spectacular event titled SNL50: The Homecoming Concert. One of the most electrifying highlights of the evening was when Post Malone joined the remaining members of Nirvana for a memorable performance of ?Smells Like Teen Spirit.? As anticipated, audience reactions were varied, reflecting the passionate connection fans have with both the artist and the legendary band.

Experience the Unforgettable Performance

The three-and-a-half-hour concert, which is now available for streaming on Peacock, took place at the iconic Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The event aimed to unite legendary Saturday Night Live hall-of-famers, renowned guests, and surprise musical acts. Post Malone?s collaboration with the legendary grunge band truly delivered on that promise, showcasing a blend of nostalgia and fresh energy.

They were introduced by the beloved comedian Adam Sandler, who was part of the Saturday Night Live cast from 1990 to 1995. Sandler expressed his excitement, saying [via Entertainment Weekly]:

These next guys played while my cast was there, and it was an explosive moment for all of us. It changed it all. Three guys rockin’ out in a way no one had ever seen before, led by a young badass who we will never forget. But the music will live on forever. Ladies and gentlemen: Post Nirvana!

Amidst the crowd?s resounding applause, Post Malone, drummer Dave Grohl, bassist Krist Novoselic, and Foo Fighters guitarist Pat Smear (who toured with Nirvana in ?93 and ?94) electrified the stage.

They kicked off with a rendition of ?Smells Like Teen Spirit,? maintaining a captivating connection to the original while showcasing Malone?s unique vocal style. His powerful and gruff singing, combined with his guitar skills, allowed him to replicate late frontman Kurt Cobain?s iconic solo, creating an exhilarating atmosphere that resonated with both the band and the audience.

Following their performance, Malone expressed gratitude to the audience and shared a heartfelt hug with Grohl, further emphasizing the camaraderie of this unexpected collaboration.

You can watch their full performance below.

It?s worth noting that this was not the first reunion of the surviving members of Nirvana in recent years. In 2025, Grohl, Novoselic, and Smear performed at FireAid, collaborating with various artists including St. Vincent on ?Bleed,? Sonic Youth?s Kim Gordon for ?School,? Joan Jett for ?Territorial Pissings,? and most notably, Grohl?s daughter, Violet, for ?All Apologies.?

You can check out that entire performance here.

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Fan Reactions to the Historic Performance

Post Malone has been openly enthusiastic about Nirvana for many years and has covered several of their tracks in the past. Therefore, his stepping into Cobain?s role during this memorable concert was not entirely unexpected. However, as noted by Consequence, this marked the band?s ?first major televised or streaming performance with a male singer? since Cobain’s passing and the band?s disbandment.

As anticipated, fans and viewers took to social media to share their thoughts on this monumental performance. Many expressed their adoration for the collaboration, with one user writing, ?This literally brought tears to my eyes,? while another remarked, ?It was good; it brought me a lot of joy. Of course, he?s not Kurt, but I still miss him.? A suggestion emerged from the audience as well, proposing, ?Nirvana should tour. ?Nirvana and friends’ and just get artists to cover different songs. No one will ever replace Kurt, but I think the fans would enjoy a world tour to see 75% of the original band.?

Conversely, not all reactions were positive. Some viewers expressed their displeasure, with one user bluntly stating, ?Bad. Objectively bad.? Another individual elaborated on their dissatisfaction, saying, ?I am gonna be that guy here and I hate it but I can’t stand Post Malone Nirvana. I think Kurt would have hated that shit. But his band probably knows him juuuusstt a little bit better than me who has never spoken to him. Still hate it.?

In a similar vein, another Instagram user voiced their opinion: ?Really? This is embarrassing. Let the legacy rest. Weak attempts at firing up the old songs are really tired at this point. No Kurt, no Nirvana. Period. Stop it.?

You can see those reactions ? and more ? below.

Explore More Highlights from SNL50: The Homecoming Concert

Alongside Post Malone and Nirvana?s rendition of ?Smells Like Teen Spirit,? the Jimmy Fallon-hosted SNL50: The Homecoming Concert was filled with numerous other exceptional musical performances that captivated the audience.

According to TVLine, The Lonely Island (comprising Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone) featured guest appearances from Bad Bunny, T-Pain, Lady Gaga, Eddie Vedder, and Chris Parnell in a unique medley. The concert also included Jack White performing The White Stripes? ?Seven Nation Army?; Arcade Fire, St. Vincent, David Byrne, and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band delivering a stunning rendition of David Bowie?s ?Heroes?; and Jelly Roll performing Johnny Cash?s celebrated ?Ring of Fire.?

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Watch Post Malone and Nirvana’s ?Smells Like Teen Spirit? Performance at SNL 50th Anniversary Concert