Bill Hader, best known for his iconic sketches on *Saturday Night Live* (SNL), 

recently opened up about a moment that many *SNL* fans may not know: the first time he and his colleagues saw Adele perform. 

In a new documentary titled *Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music*, Hader recalls his initial reaction when the British singer made her debut on the show back in 2008. 

At the time, Adele was relatively unknown in the United States, but her performance that night would go on to launch her career to new heights.

“We were sitting at the rewrite table on floor 9, and Adele — not a lot of us had heard of her,” Hader explained in the documentary. 

“And she started singing, and it was like, we all stopped. 

We opened the curtain and everybody looked down, and went, ‘Who is that?’” This candid moment highlights the raw reaction from Hader and the SNL crew as they watched an undiscovered talent perform with such presence and power.

Adele was relatively new to the American music scene at the time, and her SNL debut performance was a pivotal moment in her rise to superstardom. She performed songs like “Chasing Pavements” and “Cold Shoulder” from her debut album *19*, and though her music had already gained traction in the UK, this performance on a global stage was just what she needed to break into the American market. The documentary also reveals rare behind-the-scenes footage of Adele asking for guidance during rehearsals, as she seemed unsure of how to navigate the SNL set. “Should I look in the camera, where am I looking?” Adele asked in the footage. “I’m just kind of looking lost!” Despite her nervousness, her raw talent was undeniable.

SNL boss Lorne Michaels, who also appears in the documentary, offers his perspective on how Adele’s career skyrocketed in the United States after that performance. He recalls, “The whole country was watching for other reasons,” referencing Sarah Palin’s guest appearance on that same episode. “Adele went to the afterparty, and then they went back to the hotel, and then went to British Airways at the 8 a.m. flight. She said when they were on the runway, she checked her computer, and she was at number 45. And when they landed, she was almost number 1.” It was an extraordinary, almost surreal, shift in fortune for the singer, whose album *19* saw a meteoric rise on iTunes shortly after the show aired.

Although Adele’s debut album had already made waves in the UK, her appearance on *SNL* was a crucial turning point in her American success. The episode, which also featured Josh Brolin as the host and Sarah Palin as a guest, became one of the most-watched SNL episodes of the decade, helping to propel Adele into the mainstream. The following day, *19* shot to the top of the iTunes charts, signaling the beginning of a much bigger career for the singer.

In the documentary, Adele herself reflects on how quickly her career took off after the show aired. “It ended up being a huge show, and literally overnight!” she says in archival footage. “Whenever I’ve heard that saying, ‘overnight success,’ I was like, ‘Yeah, whatever, you’ve got to proper work for it.’ And it was overnight, literally overnight, so.” Her words capture the sheer shock and excitement she felt about how quickly her life and career changed after that one appearance on the legendary stage.

The impact of SNL’s musical legacy continues to resonate with artists who have followed in Adele’s footsteps. Pop star Dua Lipa, who also discussed her own SNL experience in the documentary, praised the platform that the show provides to up-and-coming artists. “After she performed here, her whole career took off in America. Now it sounds ridiculous, cause you’re like, ‘Hey, it’s Adele!’ You know? But everybody has to start somewhere,” Lipa said. “SNL’s musical legacy is the incredible opportunity it gives artists and the early belief in them. When they kind of give you the nod and go, ‘Yeah, you deserve to be on this stage,’ you get like a certain confidence and excitement and belief in yourself that you can do it.”

Adele’s rise to global fame was truly remarkable, and *SNL* played a pivotal role in making her an international star. Hader’s early reaction to Adele’s performance, coupled with the behind-the-scenes moments in the documentary, serve as a reminder of the power of live television and the lasting impact it has on musicians. It’s clear that Adele’s journey to success was anything but ordinary, and *Saturday Night Live* played an integral role in making her an undeniable force in the music world.

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