ABOVE: Watch Rudolph thank organizers before performing a surprise version of the U.S. anthem.
TORONTO – Former Saturday Night Live cast member Maya Rudolph‘s commencement speech at Tulane University has gone viral after the actor busted out two of her most famous impressions — Oprah and Beyoncé.
Rudolph was honoured with a performance from Tulane’s Green Envy a capella group before taking the podium. Her speech went just over 16 minutes and was filled with comedy and advice. The fun began pretty much the moment she began speaking.
“I stand here humbled, gracious and completely naked under this robe,” Rudolph announced to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome crowd in New Orleans.
The jokes reached a climax when Rudolph delivered her first of two familiar impressions.
“Look under your seats — because you’re all leaving here today with a college diploma!” she yelled out with just as much energy as former talk-show host Oprah Winfrey brought daily.
Rudolph wrapped things up with a friendly goodbye. “Now go make your parents proud and go figure out a way to end global warming,” she said. “I love you class of 2015!”
But before the applause could begin, Rudolph asked all those in attendance to rise for a second rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” sung by the one, the only, ‘Queen B’ in the flesh… Ms. Maya Rudolph. After all, Beyoncé was one of Rudolph’s most popular staples on SNL.
Her exaggerated and highly-animated anthem took nearly four minutes to finish — but she walked away with the crowd on its feet and the future in its hands.
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