Hillary Clinton surprises Katy Perry, UNICEF audience to present award

At the UNICEF Snowflake Ball in New York on Tuesday night, singer and UNICEF goodwill ambassador Katy Perry was given the Audrey Hepburn Humanitarian Award, and — to the surprise of just about everyone in the room, including Perry — she was introduced by Hillary Clinton. Clinton, greeted by a sustained standing ovation, offered effusive praise for Perry, who campaigned for her during Clinton's presidential run.

"I cannot tell you how delighted I am to be here to help celebrate... a global megastar, a social media queen with the most Twitter followers in the world — although she's getting some competition — and someone whose powerful voice and creative lyrics remind us when you get knocked down to get back up," Clinton said. "I've gotten to spend time with her and I know how deeply she cares about making our world a better place. She is serious about understanding the complex problems we face and pulling people together to solve them. We need champions like Katy now more than ever — her passion, her energy and, yes, her voice."

Perry, who has been a goodwill ambassador since 2013, jokingly asked for a tissue to dry her eyes, then returned the compliments. "I've always had a voice — a singing voice — but I've never had a voice like I've had before," she said. "Hillary has lit that voice inside of me, and that light will never go out, it will continue to get brighter and brighter and brighter. Thank you Hillary. You motivate me and so many millions of people." Clinton has kept a low profile since losing the presidential election to Donald Trump. This was only her second public appearance.

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