The song was released as a single in 1978, sold over a million copies,[1] and reached number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Martin had brought the song to the show and asked if he could perform it, not expecting the production that occurred—producer Lorne Michaels put everything behind it.

[5] Chicago radio superstation WLS-AM, which gave the song much airplay, ranked "King Tut" as the 11th biggest hit of 1978.

This was not during the time the Tut exhibition was on display at the Field Museum of Natural History near downtown Chicago, which was April 15 – August 15, 1977.

Martin has performed "King Tut" live in a bluegrass arrangement with the band Steep Canyon Rangers on several occasions.