Hillary Clinton, Jimmy Fallon join star-studded commencement podcast for sheltering graduates

[April 15, 2020]    (Reuters) - Hillary Clinton, Jimmy Fallon, John Legend and Eli Manning are among more than two dozen personalities who will offer words of wisdom via podcast to high school and college graduates sheltering at home due to the coronavirus outbreak, organizers said on Tuesday.

IHeart Media Inc said it will debut the podcast called "Commencement: Speeches for the Class of 2020" on May 15. Graduations that typically take place in May and June have been canceled as Americans stay home to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Many of the podcast speakers are people who normally would appear in person at commencement ceremonies to offer inspiration to graduates. The lineup includes entertainers Tim McGraw, Kesha and Pitbull; journalist Katie Couric; college basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski; and retired General Stanley McChrystal.

"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," said Conal Byrne, President of the iHeartPodcast Network.

The commencement podcast "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," Byrne added.

IHeart Media also has announced a "virtual prom" on May 1 with Los Angeles radio station KIIS-FM for students who will miss that annual rite of passage. It will feature celebrity appearances including DJ sets by Joe Jonas, Dillon Francis and Loud Luxury.

(Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Bill Berkrot)

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