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What celebrities told Massachusetts graduates in 2025
Cardi B, Ed Sheeran, Sara Bareilles and other stars shared advice to Massachusetts 2025 graduates at these commencement speeches. Here's what they said.
Massachusetts students graduating in 2025 were celebrated with star-powered commencement speeches.
To help them on their next chapter in life, some familiar faces – like Cardi B, Ed Sheeran, and Pedro Martinez – shared their best advice, life lessons, and a few laughs with the graduates.
Ahead, see what they said below.
Berklee College of Music
André 3000, a member of the hip-hop duo Outkast, and Sara Bareilles, an award-winning singer-songwriter, both received honorary Doctor of Music degrees at the Berklee College of Music commencement on May 10.
“I love this notion of becoming a doctor of music because it makes me think about medicine. Art as medicine. Truth as medicine. You and me as medicine. I cannot stop thinking about your courage. It takes so much courage to choose this path to pursue a life in the arts in any capacity…Whatever you do, keep telling your truth to the world. That is what makes you an artist, because it’s medicine. It’s your unique medicine. I am the doctor but you are the medicine. Congratulations!” – Sara Bareilles, singer-songwriter
“If you’re an artist, your job is to stay true to what you’re feeling, stay true to your instincts, stay true to what drives you. To do that you have to have some thick skin. So don’t worry about what people say – good and bad – because the praise can kind of blind you in ways too. So stay on your path.”– André 3000, rapper, singer, songwriter
Emerson College
White Lotus actress Jennifer Coolidge delivered the commencement address to Emerson College on Sunday. Coolidge, a Golden Globe-winning actress, studied performing arts at Emerson before dropping out to pursue her career as an actress. She received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.
“When you find the thing you want to do, I really want to highly recommend, just friggin’ go for it,” Coolidge said. “You really have to psyche yourself up into believing absurd possibilities, and you have to believe they are not absurd.” – Jennifer Coolidge, actress
Fisher College
Boston Red Sox pitcher and MLB Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez and his wife Carolina Cruz Martinez delivered the commencement speech to Fisher College on May 10. They were both awarded with Honorary Doctorate Degrees in Humane Letters.
“I want to use one word that really sticks with me in everything I do: Love. If you show love for whatever you do, whatever you’re about to do, you will beat up on fear, beat up on time. Whatever adversity you have in front of you, you’re going to beat it, but you’re going to have to love it. You’re going to have to love everything you do, whatever you strive to do in your life.” – Pedro Martinez, Boston Red Sox pitcher from 1998 to 2004.
Northeastern University
Superstars Cardi B, Ed Sheeran, and Rosé gave the Northeastern University class of 2025 well wishes at their commencement ceremony in Fenway Park on May 11.
“Northeastern University class of 2025! I hope whatever you studied for and worked for pays off. I hope you guys now enjoy the real world, because college and the real world are very different.” – Cardi B
“Hey Northeastern University! Congratulations and I hope everyone is having a good time over there. Lots of love!” – Ed Sheeran
“Cogratulations Northeastern Class of 2025, wishing everyone the best as you start this next chapter.” – Rosé
To see more 2025 Mass. commencement speakers here.
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