Machine Gun Kelly Puts Up Spectacular Performance On His SNL Debut

Machine Gun Kelly has made his ‘SNL’ debut! The singer performed his emotional track ‘Lonely’ and also rocked out with ‘My Ex’s Best Friend.’

He opened his first of two amazing performances with “My Ex’s Best Friend” feat. blackbear. Fans on Twitter were quick to call SNL moment a “perfect vibe,” and loved his live version. The star sported his signature pink for the playful performance, showing off a black and yellow manicure. 

‘Lonely’

Playing his guitar at the same time, MGK has brought tons of energy to perform well as he shows off his sound.

For his second play, MGK played the song “Lonely” – one of his most emotional tacks off Tickets to My Downfall. Seated with his custom pink, black, and white guitar, the singer-songwriter gave his all into the performance as he rocked out with his band. I got in trouble/The first time my dad saw me/Dance with the devil,” he opened the track, which details his relationships with his late aunt and dad.

His father passed away this past summer, and MGK has previously talked about how he lived with his aunt after his mom left him at just 9-years-old. “Lonely, lonely, even when the room is full/I’d trade it, trade it, I would trade it all for you,” he sings to them.

MGK appeared in a humorous ad accompanied by presenter John Krasinski, 41, earlier this week. The “Bloody Valentine” singer appeared to be receiving advice from The Office alum and longtime cast member Heidi Gardner. Heidi put John on the spot as she says it is was a “big week, huge week” at Studio 8H as John prepared to also make his SNL debut.

“But no pressure though,” he laughed back, as Heidi retorted, “No, I’d say there’s tons of pressure. I mean, it’s the first show back, the first show of 2021 the first show since [Donald] Trump!” MGK then hilariously added, “She’s right, you better be funny.”

MGK’s Stage Name

In another post shared on Twitter to advertise the episode, Heidi asked Machine Gun Kelly about how he decided on his stage name.  “Hey I was wondering…how did you come up with the name Machine Gun Kelly?” she pondered. “Oh, my mother’s maiden name is Machine Gun,” MGK joked back.

The name is actually a reference to prohibition era George Kelly Barnes (1895 – 1954), who earned his nickname from his favorite weapon. “I remember when I was a kid watching @nbcsnl every weekend with my aunt and my dad, since they aren’t here to see this moment, I’m going to perform the song I wrote for them on the show,” MGK tweeted ahead of the episode. “Hopefully, I’ll feel them there,” he also wrote.