Watch: Jon Bon Jovi Awarded Honorary Doctor of Music Degree
Jon Bon Jovi received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the University of Pennsylvania on Monday (May 20) during Penn's 263rd Commencement at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, the Asbury Park Press reported. The rocker shared photos of the ceremony on social media, and the Bon Jovi singer's honoris causa salute—where a chorus of grads erupted into "Livin' on a Prayer"—was captured on film.
See the images and watch the video down toward the bottom of this post.
"It's better to be a doctor than be in need of a doctor,” Bon Jovi shared online, the musician posting a trio of photos that showed he and fellow graduates posing with the university's "Ben Franklin on the Bench" statue.
During the commencement, the musician—who was born just an hour away in Middlesex County, New Jersey—was extolled for his musical success as well as his humanitarian efforts by university president Amy Gutmann. This isn't the first time Bon Jovi has been honored by an educational institution. The singer received an honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Monmouth University in 2001.
Bon Jovi, the singer's namesake act, were included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year. At the induction ceremony, in April of 2018, the group were given the Rock Hall honor by none other than radio host Howard Stern.
Jon Bon Jovi at University of Pennsylvania Commencement (May 20, 2019)
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