Justin Bieber set for Saturday Night Live gig

New acoustic album to drop just before February appearance

CBC News

Posted: Jan 9, 2013 11:33 AM ET

Last Updated: Jan 10, 2013 11:21 AM ET

Singer Justin Bieber, seen performing in New York in December, will host SNL on Feb. 9. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters)

Justin Bieber will be the next musician to do double duty as host as well as the featured performer on Saturday Night Live.

A spokesperson for NBC, which broadcasts the longrunning sketch show, confirmed on Wednesday that Bieber will indeed take the SNL spotlight on Feb. 9.

Earlier this week, the Stratford, Ont. singer posted a teasing Twitter update hinting at the gig. "Maybe I'm hosting and performing on SNL...maybe," he wrote on Monday.

The singer last appeared live on the show in 2010, when he performed his song U Smile and serenaded SNL alum Tina Fey in a sketch.

Bieber follows in the footsteps of singer Bruno Mars, who both hosted and performed on Saturday Night Live earlier this season, and others like Elton John.

Other upcoming SNL hosts include actress Jennifer Lawrence and Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine.

Beiber will release a new acoustic album, titled Believe Acoustic, on Jan. 29, just ahead of his hosting gig.

His label, RBMG/Island Def Jam Music, says there will be three new songs on the album as well as acoustic versions of Boyfriend, Beauty and a Beat and As Long as You Love Me from Believe.

The label is attempting to get a new moniker — the Prince of Pop — to stick to the 18-year-old.

“Fans of the Prince of Pop should flock to Believe Acoustic,” it says in its release.

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