Barack Obama has kept a relatively low profile since leaving the White House more than three years ago, but today the former President will deliver not one but two virtual commencement addresses for this season of coronavirus pandemic.
Starting with Show Me Your Walk, HBCU Edition at 2 PM ET the ex-POTUS steps up as the marquee name for the two-hour livestreamed event for historically black colleges and universities. However, Obama isn’t the only big name on the Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accessible occasion with Kevin Hart, Steve Harvey, Vivica Fox Chris Paul, Debbie Allen, and Power’s Omari Hardwick among those all scheduled to appear.
However, with LeBron James also in the game, it is the second Obama speech scheduled for Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020 that really could have America rockin’ with the “Yes, We Can” mantra like in the old days in tribute to students who saw their senior year cut short by the COVID-19 crisis:
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 recognize this milestone with you and your loved ones. pic.twitter.com/ngR2ykx3A2
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) May 5, 2020
Kicking off at 8 PM ET/8 PM PT, the one-hour remote event put together by the XQ Institute, The LeBron James Family Foundation, and The Entertainment Industry Foundation and supported by American Federation of Teachers will be shown on ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC as well as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, California Music Channel, CNN, ESPN, The CW, FOX Business Network, FOX News Channel, Twitter, Freeform, MSNBC, Univision and over a dozen other outlets and platforms. Donald Trump may not like seeing his old rival getting so much exposure and will undoubtedly try to pull the spotlight back to himself as the Associated Press and Reuters carry Graduate Together. As well, the USO is making the show available to every American military base around the world to see.
What they will see is not only the 44th POTUS joined by a number of high school students who are part of the Obama Foundation’s aim “to inspire, empower and connect people to change their world,” but also some pretty high profile pals. NBA superstar James is participating, and so is National Teacher of the Year Rodney Robinson, Kumail Nanjiani and Lena Waithe, to name a few.
Here is the full star filled guest list for Graduate as of midnight tonight:
Barack Obama
LeBron James
Kane Brown
Bad Bunny
Timothée Chalamet
Chika
Lana Condor,
YBN Cordae
Charli D’Amelio
Dixie D’Amelio
David Dobrik
Dolan Twins
Loren Gray
Kevin Hart
H.E.R.
Chris Harrison
the Jonas Brothers featuring KAROL G,
Alicia Keys,
Liza Koshy
Julianne Moore
Maren Morris
Shaquille O’Neal
Brandan Bmike Odums
National Teacher of the Year Rodney Robinson,
Kumail Nanjiani
Lena Waithe
Ben Platt
Henry Platt
Jonah Platt
Megan Rapinoe
Yara Shahidi
Olivia Wilde, ]Pharrell Williams
Malala Yousafzai
Zendaya
In addition to working to get his one-time VP Joe Biden elected POTUS in his own right this fall, President Obama will appear with former First Lady, Lady Gaga, at June 6’s “Dear Class of 2020”, YouTube Originals’ virtual commencement event to give the headliner remarks.
So, Happy Graduation to the more than three million high school seniors across this land – and here’s a peak at tomorrow night: