Surprising even those who thought they had seen it all, Hillary Clinton made an unexpected entrance at the Tony Awards on Sunday, receiving a standing ovation from the star-studded audience. Donning her trademark pantsuit, Clinton graced the stage not as a politician or a former Secretary of State but as a producer of "Suffs", a musical chronicling the women's suffrage movement.

Clinton took the opportunity to introduce a performance of "Keep Marching" from "Suffs," a fitting song given her lifelong advocacy for women's rights. One might think that standing ovations and theatrical numbers are the bread and butter of the Tonys, but Clinton managed to add a surprising political garnish—it wouldn’t be a Clinton appearance otherwise.

The night's most memorable moment came when Clinton quipped about her loss to Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election. "You know, after losing the election, I didn't think I'd be back on a stage anytime soon," she jested. The joke, however, hung in the air like an uninvited ghost at Hamlet's castle—eliciting a mixed reaction. While some audience members chuckled, the overall response was one of audible silence, proving once again that jokes about the 2016 election might need a few more decades to simmer.

Despite the lukewarm reception to her comedic effort, Clinton expressed immense pride in "Suffs" and its creator, Shaina Taub, stating, "This show is more than just entertainment; it's a celebration of the women who fought for equality." And the show certainly had something to celebrate—"Suffs" won the Tony Awards for best book of a musical and best original score.

Not to be one who misses out on a political plug, Clinton also urged the audience to vote in the 2024 presidential election. "Keep marching, keep fighting, and most importantly, keep voting," she implored, perhaps a subtle reminder that no matter the platform, Clinton is always in campaign mode.

Clinton's engagement with "Suffs" was driven by a need to shed light on pivotal moments in women's history, and she revealed that she had never been approached about producing a play before this. The cherry on top was when she was visibly moved by the show's finale, calling "Keep Marching" a "very touching and poignant" number that resonated deeply with her own journey.

Though Clinton marked her first Tony nomination with this production, she conceded the ultimate prize for best musical to Angelina Jolie's "The Outsiders." One can only imagine the backstage tête-à-tête between the former Secretary of State and the Hollywood icon—I mean, that's the kind of crossover episode politics and entertainment live for.

This year’s Tony Awards was an extraordinary medley of theatre, politics, and iconic personalities. Hillary Clinton’s surprise appearance will undoubtedly be the talk of Broadway, and even if her 2016 election joke landed shorter than a hanging chad, her contributions to the evening were nothing short of headline-worthy.