Barack and Michelle Obama, Lady Gaga, BTS and more to deliver commencement speeches for graduating students

‘Even if we can’t get together in person this year, Michelle and I are excited to celebrate the nationwide Class of 2020’

Barack and Michelle Obama on 29 October 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Barack and Michelle Obama will deliver commencement speeches during a star-studded event for graduating students.

The remote celebration, called Dear Class of 2020, will stream live on YouTube on 6 June.

In addition to the Obamas, Lady Gaga, BTS, Malala Yousafzai, Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and former US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates will also give addresses.

Alicia Keys, Kelly Rowland, Kerry Washington, The Try Guy, Zendaya and more are scheduled to make special appearances.

The former US president announced his participation to the live stream on Tuesday, writing on social media: “I’ve always loved joining commencements––the culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice.

“Even if we can’t get together in person this year, Michelle and I are excited to celebrate the nationwide Class of 2020 and recognise this milestone with you and your loved ones.”

The former first lady also shared an announcement, writing: “To the #Classof2020, I know how hard you all have worked to make it to graduation. You’ve put in long hours studying. You’ve thrown yourself into extracurricular activities and after-school jobs. And you’ve done everything you can to be there for your friends through it all.

“Some of you will be the first in your families to graduate from high school or college, making this occasion all the more special. And I know that none of you imagined you would be closing this chapter of your life through a computer or phone screen. But I still want to make sure you still get the celebration you deserve.”

Ahead of the commencement address, Barack Obama will join another remote event on 16 May.

Dubbed Graduate Together: America Honours the High School Class of 2020, the celebration will air at 8pm ET on major TV networks including ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC. Streaming partners will broadcast the event online.

“President Obama will congratulate the Class of 2020 on their accomplishments over the past four years – and reflect on the past two months, as the COVID-19 pandemic has forced students in every high school across the country to adjust to new ways of learning and connecting and miss out on highly anticipated rites of passage like graduation,” reads a release for the event.

LeBron James, Malala Yousafzai, the Jonas Brothers, Yara Shahidi, Lena Waithe, Pharrell Williams, Megan Rapinoe, HER, Bad Bunny, Ben Platt, and more will join the former president.