Students missing graduation due to the coronavirus outbreak will still have an opportunity to hear motivating commencement speeches from some of the biggest names in media and entertainment with iHeartRadio’s Commencement: Speeches for the Class of 2020.
iHeartPodcast Network president Conal Byrne confirmed the event in a statement, saying, “Because so many schools and colleges have moved to online learning to ensure the safety of their students, many graduates are missing their commencement ceremonies, traditionally such significant milestones in their lives. High school and college seniors are always in need of inspiration, reassurance, and life advice as they head into the next chapter of their lives, and that is especially true this year. Speeches for the Class of 2020 brings together some of the most experienced and inspiring people in the country today to celebrate the resilience, strength, and accomplishments of this year’s graduates. These are the speakers our graduates would have had at their real-world ceremonies if not for current circumstances, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring them together through this podcast.”
Eli Manning, Jimmy Fallon, DJ Khaled, Hillary Clinton, John Legend, and several other notable names are recording speeches specifically for seniors who have been robbed of their graduation due to the unforeseen circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic. The words of wisdom will be available as part of iHeart’s podcast special, streaming on May 15th.
Others expected to record speeches for the podcast include comedian Chelsea Handler, cosmetics entrepreneur Bobbi Brown, Epic Records CEO Sylvia Rhone, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, Ariel Investments co-CEO Mellody Hobson, NPR correspondent Guy Raz, MSNBC anchor Stephanie Ruhle, restaurateur David Chang, actress Sienna Miller, TV personality Dr. Oz, journalist Katie Couric, Gen. Stanley McChrystal. Recording artists Halsey, Kesha, Khalid, Pitbull, and Tim McGraw, are also participating.
Several iHeart hosts are also joining in to help uplift graduates, including Angie Martinez, Angela Yee, Ryan Seacrest, Enrique Santos, Bobby Bones, Jake Brennan, and Woody.
Commencement will be available on iHeartRadio and other podcast platforms, as well as iHeartMedia radio broadcasts. Additional speakers are expected to be added soon.
