Hozier performed “Too Sweet” and a cover of The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York.” Saturday Night Live – Check out footage from the performance below.

• READ MORE: Hozier interview: “There was always room for my own conscience in my work”

Last night (December 21), the singer-songwriter appeared on the show for the first time since his debut on the series in 2014. Introduced by Martin Short, he performed his runaway hit ‘Too Sweet’, taken from this year’s surprise release. Unheard EP’.

The March record contained four previously unreleased songs, all recorded during the Unreal Unearth sessions. The success of “Too Sweet” made the singer the first Irish act to top the Billboard charts since Sinéad O’Connor in April, and recently secured him a spot on Barack Obama’s annual list of favorite songs of the year.

The “Take Me To Church” singer also performed a rendition of 1987’s “Fairytale of New York.” The Christmas track, sung by Kirsty MacColl and Pogues frontman Shane McGowan, has been at the center of debate in recent years because A homophobic slur was used in his lyrics that Hozier’s backing singers used in “You are cheap and haggard”.

In 2019, the issue resurfaced when actress and screenwriter Ruth Jones faced backlash as a result Gavin & Stacey included the text in this year’s Christmas TV special. Following the BBC’s initial announcement that it would censor the song’s lyrics, Laurence Fox took to Twitter to criticize the broadcaster, prompting a backlash from the band’s official account.

In a recent interview with NME, The band’s surviving members James Fearnley, Jem Finer and Spider Stacy all took part in the annual debate.

When asked what the band thought of the culture wars surrounding the title, Stacy pointed to the public dispute with Fox and said: “We don’t want to get dragged into anything on behalf of people like Laurence Fox.”

Hozier sings “Fairytale of New York” by The Pogues on SNL tonight pic.twitter.com/6YC6RNdj1k

— Hozier’s Vocals (@hoziersvocalss) December 22, 2024

He continued: “When the BBC announced they were censoring this lyric, I looked on Twitter where a guy said he loved the Pogues, but every Christmas he hears drunk guys shouting that word in the street – when they are.” He sings along to “Fairytale of New York” – remembering how many times he heard it when he was getting the shit kicked out of him in school for being gay.”

Meanwhile, Hozier was recently confirmed as the first headliner for Reading & Leeds. He will be top of the bill at the 2025 edition of the two-venue festival alongside Chappell Roan, Travis Scott and Bring Me The Horizon.