Award-winning, multi-platinum singer-songwriter John Legend told Loyola Marymount University’s Class of 2024 on Saturday that the history through which they’ve lived – a once-in-a-century pandemic, converging national and global crises – has “forged strength of mind and character with deeper empathy, perhaps, than any generation before.”
Legend told a captivated crowd gathered for undergraduate commencement exercises on LMU’s Westchester campus that “these are no ordinary times. No question about it.”
He emphasized the significance of love as a healing and unifying force. “I like to think that these last few years have instilled in you the recognition that love matters most of all – the kind of love that has defined my life’s journey,” he said. “With love, we can see ourselves in each other. We can discover our abiding mutuality. With love, we can serve. With love, we can heal. We can build. We can do – and undo.”
To the Class of 2024, he said: “I cannot wait to see how you will harness the power of love.”
An EGOT-winning artist with a trophy tally that includes 12 Grammys, three Emmys, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a Tony Award, Legend is a paragon of artistic achievement and social commitment. Not only is he the first African American man to join the exclusive EGOT club, but he also holds a place among just 19 individuals worldwide who have earned this distinction. Over his illustrious career, Legend has released seven celebrated solo albums, from “Get Lifted” to “LEGEND,” showcasing his evolution as an artist committed to pushing the boundaries of music.
Beyond his undeniable talent on the stage, Legend’s contributions to television as a coach on “The Voice” and his portrayal of Jesus in NBC’s “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert,” which earned him critical acclaim and an Emmy, further exemplify his versatile artistry and dedication to excellence. At 15, he responded to a McDonald’s Black History Month essay contest by pledging to “become a successful artist and use that success to help my community.” This early commitment has driven him to use his platform to listen, amplify, and advocate for diverse underrepresented communities, taking on causes from education reform to criminal justice reform.
Download a video excerpt and Legend’s full address to the Class of 2024.
LMU’s graduate commencement ceremony with keynote speaker Janelle Monáe, acclaimed artist, author, actor, and fashion icon, will be held on Sunday, May 5.
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