Maya Rudolph dusts off her Beyonce impression for Tulane commencement

NEW ORLEANS, May 19 (UPI) -- Maya Rudolph's commencement speech at Tulane University in New Orleans on Saturday included a jazzy, four-minute rendition of the National Anthem and brief snippets of her famed Beyonce impression.

"If you will indulge me, because we are in the Superdome, would you mind rising one more time for the National Anthem?" the Saturday Night Live alum and Bridesmaids star told graduates before she launched into a Beyonce-inspired version of "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Rudolph, whose mother was 1970s vocalist Minnie Riperton, also couldn't resist a few bars of "Single Ladies" and "Drunk in Love."

For the rest of her 17-minute speech, Rudolph channeled Oprah Winfrey, discussed her own college experience and advised graduates to follow their ambitions.

"Kiss your Mama. Admit what your dreams are. Don't beat yourself up if you don't know what you're gonna do tomorrow," she said. "But work hard and don't be lazy. And put away your damn phone once in a while. And be nice to jerks because we still don't know the criteria for getting into heaven yet."