NBC has tapped music superstar Mariah Carey to step in for Janet Jackson as musical guest on tonight's episode of Saturday Night Live.  Earlier this week, Jackson dropped out of her appearance on the live comedy sketch show after coming down with the flu.

Carey, whose last appearance on Saturday Night Live took place more than 10 years ago, will be performing songs from her highly-anticipated new album, “E=MC2.”  Scheduled to hit shelves on Tuesday, April 15, “E=MC2” is Carey's eleventh studio album and a follow-up to "Emancipation of Mimi," her multimillion-dollar selling #1 album which earned three Grammy Awards – including Best Contemporary R&B Album – and holds two #1 singles, as well as stayed on the charts for a long 18 months.

“Touch My Body” is the title of the first single from “E=MC2.”  The song was written and produced by Carey herself, and has already earned more than 80 million radio audience since its release in February.  Additionally, Entertainment Weekly has included the song in its “Must List” as “a deliciously sexy pop single.”  Feature filmmaker Brett Ratner directed the video, which stars actor Jack McBrayer, known for playing NBC page Kenneth on the Emmy Award-winning comedy series, 30 Rock.

Hosting tonight's Saturday Night Live is Jonah Hill.  The 24-year-old actor-screenwriter recently appeared in the hit comedy flicks, Knocked Up and Superbad, both of which were produced by Judd Apatow.

As for Jackson, the 41-year-old five-time Grammy-Award singer was supposed to perform songs from her recently released #1-debuting album, “Discipline,” which ruled the Billboard 200 and R&B charts upon its release.  “Discipline” is her tenth studio album and her first # 1 debut since 2001.

On Tuesday, Jackson's representative, Patti Webster, told the Associated Press via email that the singer was pulling out of her Saturday Night Live gig because of the flu, and that although Jackson went to a Los Angeles hospital, “she was never admitted and she is fine.”

Weber also said that Jackson decided to cancel her Saturday Night Live appearance because "she needs some time to get better."


-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: NBC, the Associated Press
(Image Courtesy of NBC)