LOS
ANGELES, April 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --
Loyola Marymount University will welcome
award-winning, multi-platinum singer-songwriter John Legend as
the keynote speaker for the 2024 undergraduate commencement
exercises on Saturday, May 4; Janelle
Monáe, acclaimed artist, author, actor, and fashion icon, will
speak at the graduate commencement on Sunday, May 5.
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.
Monáe is a multi-hyphenate, ten-time Grammy-nominated artist,
New York Times best-selling author,
actor, and fashion icon. She is known worldwide for her inimitable
style and visionary sound, which celebrates the spectrum of
identity. Following her critically acclaimed 2018 album "Dirty
Computer," Monáe recently released "The Age of Pleasure" in
June 2023. The highly anticipated
album has turned into the ultimate celebration. Beyond music, she
was recently honored with Critics Choice's 2023 SeeHer Award and
recognized as Trevor Project's Suicide Prevention Advocate of the
Year.
She serves as a co-chair to Michelle
Obama's When We All Vote and has established her own
initiative, Fem the Future, which aims to create opportunities for
not just fellow creatives but society. In 2022, she published her
first book, "The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories from Dirty
Computer," which debuted on the New York Times Bestseller
List. As an actor, she starred as "Cassandra Brand" in Netflix's highly awaited
sequel, "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery," alongside Daniel Craig, Kate
Hudson, Kathryn Hahn, and
Leslie Odom, Jr. She is also
credited for her roles in Academy Award-nominated film "Hidden
Figures" and Academy Award-winning film "Moonlight."
More than 2,400 undergraduate and graduate students will
participate in LMU's commencement exercises, which will be
held at Sunken Garden on the LMU Westchester campus and streamed
live. More information can be found at lmu.edu/commencement.
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SOURCE Loyola Marymount
University