These superstars are about to become one degree hotter.

According to Berklee College of Music, legends Usher and Roberta Flack are set to receive honorary doctorate degrees from the institution.

The Ceremony

Set to take place on May 13, the Berklee College of Music will not only present the pair with their degrees, but the recipients will also have an opportunity to address fellow graduates, current students, staff, and more during the commencement ceremony, which will happen at Boston University’s Agganis Arena.

Meet The Honorees

Usher, an eight-time Grammy award winner, will be recognized for not only his contributions to music but for his contributions to film and activism as well. Since 1999, his New Look Foundation has provided young people from underserved communities with opportunities of a lifetime.

More recently, in 2020 he wrote an essay for The Washington Post to push for the recognition of Juneteenth as a federal holiday.

Roberta Flack has been hailed as one of the most prolific songstresses of all time and is the recipient of four Grammy awards. No stranger to music or education, Flack attended Howard University on a full scholarship.

She will be recognized for both her extraordinary work as a musical artist and for her humanitarian efforts as well. A former school teacher, she founded the Roberta Flack School of Music at the Hyde Leadership Charter School, which is located in the Bronx, New York City.

In addition to Flack and Usher, Gambian native Sona Jobarteh will also be honored with a doctorate degree during the Berklee School of Music 2023 commencement ceremony. 

The honorees will now join fellow superstars including John Legend, Aretha Franklin, and more who have received distinguished honors from the educational institution.