Adam Sandler was a guest of honor at the 2026 ASCAP Experience on Thursday, where the star admitted that music, even more than comedy, has been his top passion throughout his career.
Sandler accepted the ASCAP Founders Award to recognize his contributions as a songwriter and performer, following in the footsteps of such previous recipients as Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Carly Simon, Dr. Dre and Tom Petty. ASCAP president and chair Paul Williams and chief executive officer Elizabeth Matthews introduced Sandler, who came to the podium following a video highlighting his musical performances from Saturday Night Live, his comedy specials and such features as The Wedding Singer and Billy Madison.
“Comedy wasn’t first,” he told the crowd about his early creative pursuits. He shared memories of starting a band at age 12 and then learning to play Beatles songs on guitar. “I always used music. It’s always made me the happiest.”
The honoree went on to note that his daughters — Sadie Sandler, 19, and Sunny Sandler, 17 — have carried on his passion for music. The pair starred with their dad in Netflix’s You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, among other projects.
“Both of my daughters, they jam in the house all day long like I used to,” the Happy Gilmore 2 actor said. “I walked by last night, and my one kid’s playing the piano, writing a song. My other kid’s in New York now. Every time I visit her, all her friends are like, ‘All she does is play guitar all day long.’ It’s really cool. Music’s the best.”
As Williams stood on stage with Sandler, the Jay Kelly star recalled making extra money busking with his guitar at subway stations in Manhattan while he was attending NYU and starting to pursue stand-up.
“It was always nerve-racking,” Sandler said of playing for fellow subway passengers. He pointed out that he would get attention when performing the Carpenters’ 1970 hit that Williams co-wrote: “I used to play ‘We’ve Only Just Begun’ on guitar and sing that all the time. Always the showstopper. Always changed everybody’s moods — maybe they just didn’t like the way I sang it.”
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