Nicole Scherzinger Breaks Down After Winning First Tony Award

The 2025 Tony Awards weren’t just another night of glitz and glamour on Broadway. This year’s ceremony was full of heart, emotion, and breakthrough moments for stars who’ve been hustling in the background for years. One of the most talked-about wins of the night? Nicole Scherzinger.

Yes, the same Nicole who rocked the charts with the Pussycat Dolls just picked up one of theatre’s biggest honors—and the moment was more than just a win. It felt like a full-circle moment for someone who once felt like an outsider in the world of performing arts.

Nicole Scherzinger Wins Best Actress in a Musical

Scherzinger won Best Actress in a Musical for her intense and haunting portrayal of Norma Desmond in the revival of Sunset Boulevard. Directed by Jamie Lloyd, this version stripped away the glitz and let the raw emotion shine. And Nicole? She absolutely delivered.

In her acceptance speech, she didn’t hold back. It was emotional. Real. She told the crowd:

“Growing up, I always felt like I didn’t belong, but you all have made me feel like I belong and I have come home, at last.”

That line hit hard.

She also dedicated her win to anyone feeling lost or overlooked:

“If there’s anyone out there who feels like they don’t belong or your time hasn’t come, don’t give up. Just keep on giving and giving because the world needs your love and your light now more than ever.”

This wasn’t just a personal win—it was a message of hope for anyone chasing a dream that seems out of reach.

From Pop Star to Theatre Royalty

Nicole’s journey to Broadway wasn’t overnight. After the Pussycat Dolls exploded in the 2000s, she carved out a solo music career, judged The X Factor, and dabbled in musical theatre. But Sunset Boulevard took everything to another level.

She already won the same award earlier this year at the Olivier Awards in London. Now, she’s conquered both the West End and Broadway. Not many performers can say that.

Scherzinger also gave a powerful performance of “As If We Never Said Goodbye” during the ceremony—introduced by Glenn Close, who once played the same role on Broadway. Talk about a passing of the torch.

And she made sure to thank Andrew Lloyd Webber:

“You saw in me what no one else did. You have given us all new ways to dream and you have changed my life forever.”

Sarah Snook: From Succession to Solo Star

Another huge win came from Succession actress Sarah Snook, who picked up Best Actress in a Play for her jaw-dropping performance in The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Here’s the twist: she played all 26 characters in a one-woman version of Oscar Wilde’s novel. Yep. Twenty-six roles. One actress.

She had already won the Olivier for the same role, and now she’s taken home a Tony too.

In her speech, Snook spoke from the heart:

“This means so much for a little Australian girl to be here on Broadway.”

And while it’s a one-person show on paper, she made it clear she didn’t do it alone. She thanked her team, her crew, and the people who helped pull it off every night behind the scenes.

Big Winners of the Night

While Scherzinger and Snook had the spotlight, there were plenty of other standout moments. Here’s a quick breakdown of some of the top wins and why they mattered.

Maybe Happy Ending — Best Musical

A charming story about two outdated robots discovering love and purpose in a future where they’re obsolete. It’s quirky, emotional, and deeply human. It won big:

Best Musical
Best Actor in a Musical: Darren Criss
Best Direction of a Musical: Michael Arden
And more…

Darren Criss, known from Glee, gave a heartfelt speech thanking his wife and family, calling the show “a miracle.”

Purpose — Best Play

This one hit deep. It’s a moving story about an African-American family reconnecting in Chicago. Just last month, it picked up the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

It won:

Best Play
Best Supporting Actress in a Play: Kara Young
Several acting nominations and love from critics

Sunset Boulevard — Best Revival of a Musical

Nicole wasn’t the only winner from this production. The revival itself took home the award for Best Musical Revival. Jamie Lloyd’s stripped-down version redefined the classic, leaning heavily on raw emotion over spectacle.

Eureka Day — Best Revival of a Play

Set in a California school dealing with a vaccination outbreak, this play was timely, sharp, and funny in all the right ways. It beat out contenders like Romeo + Juliet and Our Town.

Other Memorable Wins & Moments

Cole Escola won Best Actor in a Play for Oh Mary!, a hilarious and bizarre twist on Mary Todd Lincoln’s life. A wild mix of cabaret and American history. Only in theatre.
Jak Malone scored Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Operation Mincemeat, a clever musical about a real WWII British deception plot. His performance stood out for its heart and humor.
Buena Vista Social Club, the stage version of the iconic Cuban music story, picked up four awards. A vibrant celebration of culture and legacy.
Stranger Things: The First Shadow took home three awards. Yes, the Netflix hit is now a stage play, and it worked. Somehow, they brought the Upside Down to Broadway.

Honoring the Theatre Community

Host Cynthia Erivo (soon to be seen in the film version of Wicked) shared the stage with Sara Bareilles to perform “Tomorrow” from Annie. It was a tribute to members of the theatre community lost in the past year—including Annie composer Charles Strouse.

The performance was simple, heartfelt, and one of the night’s most moving moments.

And speaking of nostalgia, the original cast of Hamilton reunited to celebrate its 10th anniversary with a special medley performance. It was the kind of thing that made the entire crowd leap to their feet.

The Star Power

This year’s presenters were no joke. Heavy hitters like:

Oprah Winfrey
Samuel L. Jackson
Ben Stiller
Lin-Manuel Miranda

Their appearances added a lot of energy to an already star-packed event.

Broadway by the Numbers

The 2024–2025 Broadway season brought in:

14.7 million audience members
$1.89 billion at the box office

That’s a big rebound and a sign that live theatre is alive and thriving again.

Hot topics

Finance

Marketing

Politics

Strategy