Saturday Night Live is serving up its second helping of country music this season with an upcoming performance by the Zac Brown Band on March 7. Thor actor Chris Hemsworth will host the episode. Both the band and the actor will be making their debuts on the show's 40th season.
Zac Brown Band released the new single "Homegrown," last month, so it's likely they'll perform it on the show.
As previously reported: "'Homegrown' finds Zac Brown Band blending together its country fried style with a certain pop sensibility and radio-friendly melodies. The song kicks off with hopeful, high guitars before added layers of a bopping drumbeat, keyboards and a plucky banjo kick in. The optimistic track, which oozes of easy listening country and a happiness, is all about taking it back to one's roots."
Back in November, the band announced that their new album, the follow-up to 2012's Uncaged, will be a departure from their past work.
"We're all continuing to grow up and get better as musicians and the chemistry as a band continues to deepen," Brown told Rolling Stone Country. "Our boundaries have dissolved and we're going to still do things that are somewhat familiar that people like, but we're also going to stretch out and take chances beyond what we've done before. Some people are going to be really surprised."
The album is expected out sometime in 2015.
Meanwhile, Alabama Shakes are set to perform this weekend (Feb. 28) with host Dakota Johnson, the star of Fifty Shades of Grey.
SNL previously featured country music during Blake Shelton's double-duty episode last month. The show hasn't historically featured much country music, but it seems that all is now changing.
Zac Brown Band's upcoming episode premieres at 11:30 EST on NBC.
Are you excited to see them play? Sound off in the comments section below!
