Watch ‘SNL’ Star Kate McKinnon As Hillary Clinton Singing “Hallelujah”
“I’m not giving up and neither should you”
In a somber post-election performance last night, Saturday Night Live star Kate McKinnon delivered another one of her iconic Hillary Clinton impressions.
As part of a tribute to the late Leonard Cohen, the Emmy winner had a sad tone in her voice while singing the recently deceased musician's famed song and playing the piano during the show's cold opening. Contrary to McKinnon's typical satirical impersonation of Clinton—which won her an Emmy this year—she chose to take the opportunity to show solidarity with the Democratic candidate and her voters after the historic loss to Donald Trump earlier this week, according to USA Today.
This isn't McKinnon's first musical performance on the long-running sketch comedy series. During her tenure on SNL, she's played pop star Justin Bieber, along with other musicians like Iggy Azalea and Keith Urban. However, it was a major departure from her typical hilarious takes on musical performances during sketches.
“I did my best, it wasn’t much,” McKinnon sang, accurately reflecting the tone of the 2016 presidential campaign for Clinton. “I couldn’t feel, so I tried to touch/ I told the truth, I didn’t come to fool you/ And even though it all went wrong, I’ll stand before the Lord of Song/ With nothing on my tongue but hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.”
To wrap up the solemn cold opening, McKinnon turned to the camera and proclaimed: "I’m not giving up and neither should you, and live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!" It's unclear whether McKinnon's Clinton will return in future SNL sketches, but for now this tribute acts as a type of final bow for the actress, who's portrayed the secretary of state as a strong and confident female candidate throughout the campaign.
Watch the touching SNL tribute below.