Pink kicked off the 2026 Tony Awards by not-so-subtly touching on the current state of global politics and the ongoing political attacks aimed at the transgender community.
“We go to a Broadway show to look at what the state of the world is. This year, the worst parts of history began repeating itself and we were given Liberation and Ragtime,” Pink, 46, said during her opening monologue at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, June 7. This year, our country became more divided than ever, and we were given Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York,” Pink told the crowd.
The host’s opening monologue continued, “This year, our trans siblings began to lose even more rights, and we were given Cats: A Jellicle Ball.”
Summarizing the impact of commercial theater, the Grammy winner concluded, “Broadway theater is brave.”
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Pink, who was joined by daughter, Willow, on the red carpet as well as husband, Carey Hart, and their second child, son Jameson, further sung the praises of theater on a smaller human-to-human level.
“Theater is like group therapy: We journey to Midtown not knowing one another,” she said. “We laugh and cry together, and by the time we leave, we have a different perspective on life. And how much Twizzlers should cost.”
Prior to delivering her monologue, Pink had flown into the venue during a performance of “I’m Flying” from Peter Pan before her musical bit morphed into snippets from Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables. Her final song was “Lady Marmalade,” performed alongside Megan Thee Stallion, Whitney Leavitt, Lea Michele, Sara Chase, Marla Mindelle and more recent Broadway stars.
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Pink has never shied from expressing her political perspectives. In November 2024, the musician took to Instagram to speak her mind after voting in that year’s presidential election.
“Vote for democracy, vote for love and vote for respect. Vote for your family, your loved ones and your community. Freedom of the press, reproductive freedom, the right to vote, the right to read books,” Pink captioned a selfie that showed an “I Voted” sticker fixed to her shirt. “The right to go to school and get an education separate from religion. Vote for the future. Vote for decency.”
Pink has also given multiple interviews that discuss politics and social issues, frequently advocating for human rights and gender equality.
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As for her interest in theater, Pink has also shown support for the arts in the past, revealing that she relocated her family to New York City in order for Willow, 15, to pursue dreams of performing on Broadway.
During her opening monologue, Pink even referenced Willow.
“Tonight, I am here as Broadway’s biggest fan — well second biggest next to my daughter, Willow,” she quipped. “I don’t know where she is [in the venue], but I did not take this job so my kid could get Broadway selfies, although [we have done that backstage before] … and a couple for mama.”
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