WATCH: Kate McKinnon’s ‘Hillary Clinton’ performs ‘Hallelujah’ on SNL

MANILA, Philippines – In its first episode post-election, Saturday Night Live featured a cold open that had Kate McKinnon’s Hillary Clinton, a prominent entertainment fixture in the US election season, performing a cover of “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen. Cohen died at age 82 earlier this November. 

In character as Hillary Clinton and wearing a white pantsuit, Clinton’s signature look, the actress added her cover of “Hallelujah” to the long list of TV moments which have also featured the same song in a somber or reflective moment.

Tonight’s cold open with Kate McKinnon. #ChappelleOnSNL pic.twitter.com/zZhQOLhKXY

— Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) November 13, 2016

Dropping the jokes in favor of this quieter moment, the cold open ends as “Hillary” finishes the cover, turns to the crowd, and says: “I’m not giving up, and neither should you.”

Comedian Dave Chapelle hosted the show. A Tribe Called Quest was the musical guest.

All this comes as America adjusts to Donald Trump, the new president-elect, who defeated Hillary Clinton on election day, November 8. 

Throughout the campaign period, SNL had parodied many moments from both Clinton and Trump – including their clashes at the presidential debates. Alec Baldwin’s own “Donald Trump” was panned by Trump himself, prompting President Barack Obama to say at a campaign speech in Miami: “No, I’m serious. This is a guy who, like, tweets, ‘They should cancel Saturday Night Live. I don’t like how Alec Baldwin’s imitating me.’ Really? I mean, that’s the thing that bothers you and you want to be president of the United States?”

Meanwhile, McKinnon won a Best Supporting Actress (Comedy) Emmy last September for her work on Saturday Night Live, thanking Clinton in her speech. Clinton congratulated McKinnon on her win with this tweet:

Congratulations on your Emmy, Kate! Big fan of yours, too. pic.twitter.com/w00QO1GwyH

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 19, 2016

– Rappler.com