CNCO is celebrating the Class of 2020 in a special way…
The Latino boy band got graduates dancing at home with their party-ready medley of hits on Sunday night (June 7).
CNCO — Christopher, Erick, Zabiel, Richard and Joel — synchronized their own moves, in separate video frames, as they performed “Honey Boo,” “Hey DJ” and “Reggaetón Lento” remotely during the after party following the “Dear Class of 2020” YouTube Originals graduation ceremony.
Earlier in the evening, in the midst of the actual ceremony, they also popped in to teach this year’s grads how to say “Congratulations to the class of 2020” in Spanish.
The virtual graduation ceremony, which started with Lizzo‘s powerhouse flute performance and was chock-full of all-star commencement speeches from the likes of Barack and Michelle Obama, Beyoncé, BTS, Lady Gaga and more, was capped off with a class of 2020 after party with CNCO, Megan Thee Stallion and BTS.
Jennifer Lopez is ready to motivate this year’s graduates…
YouTube has added several speakers and musical performances to Dear Class of 2020, its global virtual commencement ceremony set for June 6, including the 50-year-old Puerto Rican superstar.
In addition to Lopez, others joining Barack and Michelle Obama, Lady Gaga and more as part of the special event are Beyoncé Knowles-Carter— who will deliver an inspirational message to the graduates — La La Anthony, Andy Cohen, Lana Condor, Misty Copeland,Kevin Durant, FINNEAS, Bill & Melinda Gates, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Demi Lovato, Hasan Minhaj, Janelle Monáe,Antoni Porowski, Billy Porter, Phoebe Robinson, Yara Shahidi, Michael Strahan, Taylor Swift, Ciara & Russell Wilson, the casts of Euphoria and Riverdale, Today’s Jenna Bush Hager and Natalie Morales, and YouTub ecreators Emma Chamberlain, John Green, NikkieTutorials, and Mark Rober.
The multi-hour event premieres on Saturday, June 6 on YouTube. Other speakers and performers include BTS, Alicia Keys, Kelly Rowland, Kerry Washington, Chloe x Halle and Zendaya, among others.
Barack and Michelle Obama each will deliver commencement speeches – as well as a joint heartfelt message – to this year’s high school and college seniors who are missing graduation celebrations due to the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, Michelle Obama’s Higher Reach Initiative will host a full hour of content to kick off the celebration.
“Graduation is a tradition that students and families look forward to and with the current state of the world, YouTube is lending some inspiration in the form of a virtual commencement,” said Susanne Daniels, Global Head of Content for YouTube. “We hope bringing together noteworthy, influential speakers along with performances from some of their favorite artists will provide encouragement for the students who have worked so hard to get here.”
In “Dear Class of 2020,” people from around the world will join the class of 2020 as a singular community to celebrate their resilience, and the endless possibilities of their future, says YouTube.
“The festival-style line up combines classic commencement day themes with a diverse array of entertainment that will capture all of the emotions of graduation including pride, hope, optimism, and camaraderie.”
YouTube is working in partnership with Higher Reach, Born This Way Foundation, Malala Fund, TODAY, and Ideas United to showcase student stories and feature graduates around the world, including a crowd-sourced commencement speech. The special will be produced by Done + Dusted.
“Dear Class of 2020” can be streamed on the YouTube Originals channel and the Learn@Home site.
The full schedule of commencement events is available on the Learn@Home site.
Michelle Obama is hoping to inspire people to exercise more in the new year by sharing her 2020 workout playlist, and the 27-year-old half-Dominican American singer is her go-to gal.
The former first lady, a dedicated health advocate, shared some of her favorite tunes to listen to while hitting the gym.
The 35-song playlist includes three tracks from Cardi B. Along with her single “Press,” Cardi B’s collaborations with Bruno Mars (“Finesse”) and Ed Sheeran& Camila Cabello(“South of the Border”) get Obama’s blood pumping.
Bruno Mars has a second song, “Perm,” on Obama’s playlist.
Jennifer Lopez gives Obama’s playlist a little old school magic with her “Feelin’ So Good Remix,” featuring Fat Joe & Big Pun.
And when it comes to her post-workout cool down, Obama turns to Miguel and Alicia Keys’ “Show Me Love,” among others.
It's about that time when New Year's resolutions get a bit harder to stick to. To offer a little inspiration, I want to share my go-to #WorkoutPlaylist with you. These songs always seem to give me that extra boost to get through my toughest workouts. What's on your playlist? pic.twitter.com/GFP56Yi9A6
The 27-year-old Mexican American singer/actress has signed on as a co-chair of the national organization When We All Vote.
Gomez joins a roster of new co-chairs that includes Liza Koshy, Shonda Rhimes, Megan Rapinoe,Tracee Ellis Rossand Kerry Washington.
The organization was launched in 2018 by co-chairs Michelle Obama, Tom Hanks ,Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Monae, Chris Paul, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw.
When We Vote bills itself as a nonpartisan group dedicated to increasing voter participation. The announcement marks a year until the date of the 2020 elections, which includes the presidential race.
Hanks said “registering new voters is an act of hope and taking part in the American idea.” He added that voting guarantees the blessings of “liberty for the grandkids.”
The 25-year-old half-Dominican American singer delivered an impassioned social message during her performance at the Global Citizen Festival on Saturday (Sept. 29) at New York’s Central Park.
Cardi B used her platform to inform fans about the importance of voting. The rapper gave a charismatic speech about the recent presidential election before introducing a pre-recorded video message from Michelle Obama.
“Last election, everybody took it as a joke, even me, I’m not even gonna front, because I thought, ‘Man, that person ain’t gonna win’ — and look where we at now,” Cardi said. “We need someone that’s gonna represent us, that’s gonna protect us, not put us with beef with everybody else.”
The 2018 Global Citizen Festival was headlined by John Legend, Jackson, The Weeknd and Shawn Mendes, and hosted by Hugh Jackmanand Deborra-lee Furness. The goal of concert was to encourage leaders to reach the U.N.’s sustainable development goals and to end extreme poverty by 2030.
Louis C.K. is joining Conan O’Brien in the Big Apple…
The 49-year-old Mexican American comedian/actor is booked for TBS late-night show Conan’s first trip to New York City since 2011.
Louis C.K. joins a guest roster that includes Tracy Morgan and Ryan Reynolds.
The week of shows airing October 31-November 3 also includes comedian Rory Scovel and rap group the Sugarhill Gang. Taped at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, the week of episodes will kick off Conan’s seventh year on TBS.
Here is the preliminary schedule for Conan in NYC, with additional guests and musical performances to be announced soon:
Monday, Oct. 31: Musical guest The Sugarhill Gang
Tuesday, Nov. 1: Louis C.K.
Wednesday, Nov. 2: Ryan Reynolds and Rory Scovel
Thursday, Nov. 3: Tracy Morgan
In addition to the nightly shows, Team Coco will be live-streaming on Instagram and Snapchat every day from inside the Apollo Theater, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the shows.
Conan in NYC marks the show’s sixth out-of-the-studio trip in the past 18 months and its second excursion to New York.
Previous trips have taken O’Brien overseas to South Korea, Armenia and the U.S. Air Force Base in Doha, Qatar, where he was accompanied by First Lady Michelle Obama.
In spring 2015, O’Brien made headlines as the first American late-night host to shoot in Cuba in more than 50 years. Across its eight seasons on TBS, the Los Angeles-based Conan has broadcast from Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta and, for the past two years, San Diego during Comic-Con International.
Narcisco Rodriguez is officially an exhibitionist… Sort of!
The 55-year-old fashion designer’s creations will be featured at the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum in Miami.
The new exhibition titled, “Narcisco Rodriguez: An Exercise in Minimalism,” is the first solo exhibition for the American designer.
The display of the designer’s thoughtful, modern pieces will also feature never-before-seen archival materials, original sketches, video, and works of art that have influenced Rodriguez’s work.
“I am honored to be asked to be part of the celebrated history of exhibitions presented by the Frost Art Museum FIU — and particularly excited to do so during Art Basel Season in Miami,” Rodriguez said in a statement.
The exhibition — co-curated by Elle creative director Alex Gonzalez and Frost Art Museum curator Klaudio Rodriguez — will kick off with a private reception on October 8 and then open to the public the following day. It will remain on view through Jan. 8, 2017.
Rodriguez’s minimalist luxe designs are a perennial favorite of the Hollywood set. Julianna Margulies most recently wore a single-shoulder look by Rodriguez to the Accessories Council Excellence Awards.
Claire Danes, Emma Watson and Gugu Mbatha-Raw have also worn his dresses.
And First Lady Michelle Obama is a longtime fan; she wore one of his dresses on election night 2008, and another to the final State of the Union address this year.
It’s a special White House moment for Alexis Bledel…
The 34-year-old half-Argentinean American actress appears in a video with First Lady Michelle Obama, which was posted on Twitter.
It’s part of the ramp up to the return of Gilmore Girls later this year on Netflix.
Helping the First Lady promote her Let Girls Learn initiative, Bledel, in-character as Rory Gilmore, shows up to the White House to drop off a massive number of books for the initiative, treating the great classics of western literature like lazy beach reading and generally being adorably smart.
Adrienne Bailon is helping raise awareness for the White House’s education initiatives…
The 32-year-old Puerto Rican and Ecuadorian American singer, actress, dancer and television personality and her fellow The Real co-hosts visited the nation’s capital recently to interview First Lady Michelle Obama about two student initiatives and more.
Bailon, Tamar Braxton, Loni Love, Jeannie Mai and Tamera Mowry-Housley’s sit-down focuses on the “Better Make Room” campaign and the first lady’s “Reach Higher” initiative, an effort to inspire every student in America to take charge of their future by continuing their education beyond high school.
The interview, conducted on Wednesday in the East Room of the White House, will air on January 26.
“We were honored and excited to bring our show to Washington, D.C., to interview First Lady Michelle Obama,” said Rachel Miskowiec, executive producer syndicated daytime talker The Real. “The ‘Better Make Room’ campaign empowers students to pursue a ‘better’ tomorrow by taking charge of their future, which is exactly the kind of thing our hosts and viewers are passionate about.”
It’s a Peanuts-sized Christmas for Kirstie Maldonado…
The 23-year-old half-Mexican, part Spanish-American singer and her fellow Pentatonix members helped spread a little holiday cheer alongside the Peanuts Gang.
In honor of the beloved animated characters and the perennial favorite A Charlie Brown Christmas, ABC aired It’s Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown with a special Pentatonix performance.
The a capella group performed “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” with the All-American Boys Chorus on the show, which was pre-recorded.
Other performers included performers Sarah McLachlan, Boyz II Men, Kristin Chenoweth, and pianist David Benoit, who worked on many of the annual yuletide Charlie Brownspecials.
Special guests included Barack and Michelle Obama.
The anniversary program trended worldwide on Twitter due in part to its musical moments.
