There’s no denying it — we are living in the time of Walton Goggins supremacy. From The White Lotus to The Righteous Gemstones, Goggins is HBO’s darling and has reached full internet boyfriend status in the broader culture. He poked plenty of fun at the heartthrob-of-it-all during his turn as SNL host this weekend, telling people during his monologue that he would be just fine without “unconventional” being tacked onto his newfound rank. Recalling some of the headlines written about him, he reads, “‘Are We All Horny for Walton Goggins’ Receding Hairline?’” He takes a moment, “I’ve had the same hairline since I was seven. It’s not receding, it’s holding its ground.”
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Midway through the unusually short monologue (just over three and a half minutes), Goggins shifts gears to discuss his upbringing in Atlanta, GA, and being raised by the strong women in his family. “My momma is the most important person in my life,” he begins. “Growing up, whenever my momma couldn’t afford a babysitter, she would take me with her to honky-tonks. My mother taught me how to clog, taught me how to two-step, and luckily enough for me, my momma is here tonight.”
You can see the emotion in his face as the camera pans over to his mother in the crowd, and you can see the pride in hers as she watches her son host one of the biggest comedy shows in television history. Walton invites her up on stage to dance with him, and the two share a sweet moment before kicking it into high gear and going all out honky-tonk on the Studio 8H stage. It’s the kind of wholesome scene that makes you want to call your mom immediately and tell her you love her, and not just because it’s Mother’s Day.
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You can watch the full opening monologue here:
