by Selena Hill
Last week, former President Barack Obama headlined JP Morgan Chase’s #ShowMeYourWalk commencement ceremony for HBCU students, which was hosted by Kevin Hart and included appearances by Steve Harvey, Doug E. Fresh, and NBA All-Star Chris Paul. Meanwhile, back in April, Oprah Winfrey delivered the featured commencement address at #Graduation 2020: Facebook and Instagram Celebrate the Class of 2020, which also featured Jennifer Garner, Lil Nas X, and Simone Biles. However, YouTube is closing out graduation season with what appears to be the grandest virtual commencement ceremony of the year. It will even have Beyoncé!
YouTube’s “Dear Class of 2020″ will be the only commencement of the season featuring speeches from both President Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as well as Beyoncé Knowles-Carter. The online event will also feature addresses from megastars like Lady Gaga and BTS. In addition, a number of world-class leaders, athletes, and celebrities will make appearances, including CEO of Alphabet and Google Sundar Pichai, Misty Copeland, Kevin Durant, Bill and Melinda Gates, Alicia Keys, Sec. Condoleezza Rice, Kelly Rowland, Yara Shahidi, Michael Strahan, Taylor Swift, Kerry Washington, and Ciara and Russell Wilson.
Throughout the YouTube Originals special, graduates will enjoy musical performances from artists like Camila Cabello, Chloe X Halle, and Lizzo. To top it all, the commencement will be followed by a grad night party hosted by YouTube Music, featuring performances by Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, and more. The event will kick off with content from Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher initiative.
“In ‘Dear Class of 2020,’ people from around the world will join the class of 2020 as a singular community to celebrate their resilience, and the endless possibilities of their future,” reads a statement from YouTube.
“Dear Class of 2020” will air on Saturday, June 6 on YouTube and the Learn@Home site, starting at 3 p.m. ET and noon P.T.