At 17

Janis Ian: First Musical Guest When “SNL” Premiered in 1975

Bill Thompson

Tomorrow night, September 28, is the season premiere of “Saturday Night Live.” It is, in fact, the start of the iconic show’s 50th season.

The show premiered on October 11, 1975. The first guest host was comedian George Carlin, and the show featured two musical guests, Billy Preston and Janis Ian.

She was 24 at the time, but had already established herself as a talented singer-songwriter.

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At a time when her high school classmates were studying for exams, Janis Ian was giving concerts, and appearing on major TV shows.

I met her in 2008, when she wrote a memoir, a book named after her first big hit – Society’s Child.

So here now, from 2008, Janis Ian.

Janis Ian is 72 now. Her latest studio album was released in 2022.

Janis Ian

Bill Thompson
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At a time when her high school classmates were studying for exams or preparing book reports, Janis Ian was giving concerts, and appearing on television, and getting awards for her music.

From an early age, Janis Ian made a name for herself as a singer-songwriter. Among her biggest hits, Society’s Child, and At 17.

And in 1975 — 45 years ago this week, in fact, — Janis Ian was one of the two musical guests on the very first episode of Saturday Night Live.

I met her in 2008, when she wrote a memoir. So here now, from 2008, Janis Ian.

Janis Ian is 69 now. Her latest album was released in 2017.