Maine pop singer Tucker Pillsbury, known to fans as Role Model, will take the stage on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” on Oct. 11.
Pillsbury, who grew up in Cape Elizabeth and comes back to Greater Portland often, will be the musical guest on the second episode of the season, NBC announced Thursday. Actress and SNL alum Amy Poehler will be the episode’s host.
Pillsbury, 28, has been building a fan base for his music over the past several years, touring and recording. With the announcement of his appearance on SNL, Pillsbury continues to broaden his career into TV and movies.
In May Netflix announced Pillsbury would star in a romantic comedy film called “Good Sex,” with Natalie Portman and Mark Ruffalo, directed by Lena Dunham. The film’s romantic triangle premise features Portman as a 40-year-old couples therapist who meets two men, one older and one younger. Pillsbury will play the latter. No release date has been announced.
Pillsbury’s feel-good TikTok video for the song “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out” has more than 4.6 million views and he’s performed on NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and “Today.”
He toured the U.S. this summer with Gracie Abrams and will tour in Europe beginning in November. When he played MGM Music Hall at Fenway in Boston on April 23, his mom, Susan Pillsbury of Cape Elizabeth, danced on stage with him.
Pillsbury has several tattoos to remind him of Maine, including the script P from the Portland Press Herald logo, on his right hand. Others include a sack of potatoes, a box of strawberries and a lobster trap.
Pillsbury told the Press Herald in April that coming home to Maine often, and meeting up with childhood friends, helps ground him.
“Our conversations are pretty much the same as they were when we were 18,” Pillsbury said. “I love that, because when I’m in LA I feel like all I’m talking about is myself and my career. I get excited for that, for just the normalcy of Maine.”
NBC announced the hosts and guest for the first three episodes of SNL’s 51st season on Thursday. Bad Bunny will host the season premiere on Oct. 4, with musical guest Doja Cat, while singer Sabrina Carpenter will host and sing on Oct. 18.