The English torch singer Adele performed on “Saturday Night Live” on this day in 2008 before a much larger audience than she imagined — thanks to then-VP hopeful Sarah Palin.
The venerable sketch-comedy show had been in a greater spotlight since the Alaskan governor had been spoofed by “SNL” veteran and Palin doppelgänger Tina Fey. Word that the real Alaskan governor would confront Fey on the show had gotten out and anticipation was high — to the great fortune of the young Adele.
She performed her hit “Chasing Pavements,” off her debut album “19” — so named for the singer’s age — and the album went on to become platinum.
Alpine ski racer and Burnsville native Lindsey Vonn — and Tiger Woods’ ex-girlfriend — is 33.
Actor and “Teen Wolf” star Tyler Posey is 26.
Actor Zac Efron – “Neighbors,” “High School Musical,” “Baywatch” (2017) – is 30.
Actress Freida Pinto — “Slumdog Millionaire,” “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” — is 33.
Jazz musician Esperanza Spalding is 33. Catch her rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Overjoyed” here.
Country singer and American Idol contestant Josh Gracin is 37.
Singer Ne-Yo is 38.
Actor Wesley Jonathan of TV’s “The Sould Man” is 39.
Actress Joy Bryant of “Parenthood” is 43.
Guitarist Peter Svensson of the Cardigans is 43.
Actor Vincent Spano, formerly of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” is 55.
Jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis is 56.
Martial-arts actor Jean-Claude Van Damme, aka “The Muscles from Brussels,” is 57.
Actress Pam Dawber, co-star with Robin Williams in the late-1970s-early ’80s sitcom “Mork and Mindy,” is 66.
Actor Joe Morton of “Scandal” and the “Justice League” movies is 70.
Actress Dawn Wells of ”Gilligan’s Island” is 79.
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Chuck Berry was born on this day in 1926. The icon behind “Johnny B. Goode” died in March 2017.
