Aretha Franklin was honored at Yale University’s 309th commencement ceremony Monday with an honorary doctorate degree.
The Queen of Soul was named a Doctor of Music by the University and joined several other luminaries honored including Secretary of Energy Steven Chu.
The University was unsure if Franklin could make the ceremony and printed inserts to the program with her name removed just in case.
The diva did make it however and was seen videotaping graduates with a pink digital camera before leaving.
Denzel Washington was also in the crowd to cheer on his daughter Katia while Steven Speilberg was there to cheer on his son Theo.
Per tradition, Yale does not have a commencement speaker but did have a speech from former President Bill Clinton on their “Class Day.”
