Anitta has made history as **Saturday Night Live**'s first-ever Brazilian musical guest.

The singer, dancer, actress, songwriter, and occasional television host **Anitta** has made history as **Saturday Night Live**'s first-ever Brazilian musical guest.

Although *Saturday Night Live* has been on air for over 50 years, it continues to break new ground. On **April 11, 2026**, Anitta performed as the musical guest during Season 51, Episode 17—becoming the first Brazilian artist in the show's history to take the iconic Studio 8H stage. The episode was hosted by actor **Colman Domingo** in his SNL hosting debut.

One of Brazil's most influential global superstars, Anitta already enjoyed significant U.S. success before her SNL moment. She appeared on the soundtrack of the 2019 *Charlie's Angels* reboot and delivered a massive 2020 hit with **“Me Gusta”** (featuring Cardi B and Myke Towers). A performance on *SNL* has the power to cement an artist in mainstream American culture. (Admit it: did you know who Morgan Wallen was before his appearance?)Whether you tuned in to the April 11 episode, want to relive the highlights, or are discovering Anitta for the first time, read on for a complete look at her journey and her exciting 2026 momentum.Anitta's

 singing career began at age 8

Born **Larissa de Macedo Machado** on March 30, 1993, in the Honório Gurgel neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, Anitta started singing at age 8 in her local parish church choir. By age 11, she was studying English and dance while pursuing academics, eventually earning a technical certificate in public administration. She fully committed to music in her late teens.Her breakthrough arrived in 2013 at age 20, when she won the **"Best New Artist"** award from the São Paulo Association of Art Critics. That year, her single **“Meiga e Abusada”** dominated Brazilian radio, and the video for **“Show das Poderosas”** became the most-watched music video in Brazil on YouTube, propelling her to national stardom.

Anitta's name didn't always have two “t”s

Anitta drew inspiration for her stage name from the 2001 Brazilian TV series *Presença de Anita*, featuring a seductive yet complex teenage character. “She could be sexy without looking vulgar—both a girl and a woman at the same time,” Anitta has explained.

She originally performed as “Anita” after being discovered on YouTube by producer Renato Azevedo. She soon added the second “t,” and by 2013 **Anitta** was cemented as her brand. Her early hits blended Brazilian funk (*funk carioca*), pop, and reggaeton, quickly establishing her as one of Brazil’s most dynamic young talents.

You probably saw Anitta at the 2016 Summer Olympics

From 2013 to 2016, Anitta released hit after hit and dipped into acting (including *Didi e o Segredo dos Anjos*). She also hosted the third season of the variety show *Música Boa Ao Vivo*.Her major global breakthrough that year came at the **2016 Rio Summer Olympics** opening ceremony, where she performed alongside legends Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil. The performance caught international attention, leading to Hollywood agency interest. She ended 2016 by winning **Best Brazilian Act** at the MTV Europe Music Awards.

Anitta's been singing in English (and multiple languages) for nearly a decade

Anitta has consistently pushed language boundaries. Her first English single, **“Switch”** (2017), teamed her with Iggy Azalea. That same year, Major Lazer’s remix of **“Sua Cara”** became a global hit and the first Portuguese-language track to chart on *Billboard*’s Dance/Electronic Songs list.Signed to Warner Records’ U.S. division by 2020, she released the chart-topping **“Me Gusta”** with Cardi B and Myke Towers. Her 2022 smash **“Envolver”** made her the first solo Latin artist to hit No. 1 on Spotify’s Global chart (a Guinness World Record) and the first female solo artist to win the MTV VMA for Best Latin.

Standout collaborations include **“Faz Gostoso”** with Madonna, **“Bellakeo”** with Peso Pluma (one of her highest Hot 100 entries), and **“São Paulo”** with The Weeknd. Her 2024 album *Funk Generation*—a celebration of Brazilian baile funk—earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Latin Pop Album (following a 2023 Best New Artist nod). She also released projects like *Kisses* (2019) and *Versions of Me* (2022).

 Anitta and Madonna’s paths seem mystically intertwin

In addition to collaborating on Madonna’s *Madame X* track *ed*“Faz Gostoso,”** Anitta joined the Queen of Pop onstage in Rio in 2024 for a performance of **“Vogue.”** Anitta has also sparked conversation by proudly incorporating elements of her Afro-Brazilian Candomblé faith into her work, notably in the 2024 single **“Aceita.”The album’s lead single, **“Pinterest”** (released March 6, 2026), already showcased her versatility with versions in Spanish and Portuguese. A third single, **“Desgraça,”** is scheduled shortly after the album drop. *EQUILIBRIVM* follows her 2024 funk-focused project and 2025 releases like *Ensaios da Anitta* and the *São Paulo* EP, marking another evolution in her sound.Anitta also earned recognition in early 2026, including a win at the **BMI Latin Awards** for her work on **“Bellakeo”** (with Peso Pluma), making her the first Brazilian artist to win in that category’s history.

Want even more Anitta? There’s a documentary for that.

If her electrifying *SNL* set introduced you to (or reminded you of) her charisma, dive into the Netflix documentary **Larissa: The Other Side of Anitta**, which premiered on **March 6, 2025**. Directed by João Wainer and Pedro Cantelmo, the intimate film explores Anitta’s dual identity as Larissa and the global pop star, her personal struggles, emotional journey, and relentless pursuit of joy and authenticity. It quickly topped charts in Brazil and Portugal, entered Netflix’s global Top 10 for non-English films, and garnered millions of views in its first days.

Anitta continues to redefine what it means to be a global Latin artist—exporting Brazilian culture worldwide while seamlessly blending funk carioca, reggaeton, pop, and electronic elements. Her groundbreaking *SNL* debut and the imminent arrival of *EQUILIBRIVM* signal that 2026 is shaping up to be one of her biggest years yet.