Will Ferrell knows the only way to properly congratulate a graduating class is by singing a Whitney Houston classic.
After encouraging the University of Southern California class of 2017 to go after their dreams despite fears and roadblocks, Ferrell, this year’s commencement speaker, swore he would always be with the graduates — in song.
“If you do have a moment where you feel down, just think about the support you have from this great Trojan family. Imagine me — literally picture my face — singing this song, gently into your ear,” he said before belting out a solid rendition of “I Will Always Love You.”
Watch Ferrell’s performance above, starting around the 23:56 mark.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- The Revolution of Yulia Navalnaya
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- What's the Deal With the Bitcoin Halving?
- If You're Dating Right Now , You're Brave: Column
- The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
- Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Write to Mahita Gajanan at mahita.gajanan@time.com