What did Usher say in his Apple Music Road to Halftime press conference?
Usher's interview ahead of Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show
Usher's Super Bowl Halftime Show Press Conference: Summary
In Usher's interview, he sadly did not give away a single hint about who we can expect to join him as a special guest.
He DID reiterate a few times that he is the first independent artist to perform at a Super Bowl Halftime Show! After 30 years, that milestone is still significant for Usher.
He talked a lot about his journey to making it to this successful stage in his career, making sure to emphasize that it was his own dream that got him here. He advised to any aspiring artist (or even person) to just keep believing you can do it and follow your passions.
He also talked about the choreography a bit, alluding to his past Vegas shows. This will be like those BUT BIGGER. I've personally never seen one of his Vegas shows, but now I'm intrigued!
We will find out on Sunday what that entails, who he'll bring, and which hit songs we'll have the pleasure of hearing.
Make sure you follow along with our live coverage of the game and Halftime Show right here on AS USA! Thanks for joining us for this special Usher Apple Music press conference. See you Sunday.
And they leave us with this video!
That brings us to the end of Usher's interview and Nadeska has left us with this video where his friends accidentally lose him. Check it out!
Audience questions
Usher was asked about being a black role model and he reiterated that you have to believe in yourself and following your passions. He also touched on the importance of studying those who have succeeded in the things you want to do.
His favorite thing about performing is performing! "The moment of connection between me and the audience." He loves to perform and feel that reaction and energy from the people he's serenading. He said it's the most important part of making music - so that others can share it and connect with it.
Then Usher was asked to give an "Usher confession" for Nickelodeon, and he said, "we'll keep it age appropriate then!" And Usher said he always dreamed of being slimed as a kid. Who didn't, really? He was very disappointed to find that the slime was discontinued when he finally made it to the Nickelodeon awards!
Coming Home - Usher's newest album
Usher talked about his ninth album. He said his life sort of paused in the last 5 years, especially during the pandemic.
So now, this album is a conglomeration of all he's been doing in that time. It's released officially tomorrow!
We'll get to hear Usher skate!
Usher has made many mentions to being able to skate on skates he created, so it looks like we'll indeed be getting some exciting choreography, to no one's surprise of course.
Guest performers??
Nadeska asked if Usher thought of anyone immediately as a guest star and he simply said, "of course".
Dag nabbit, Usher! Spill!
The future of Usher
Usher is looking for more opportunities in Las Vegas, whatever that might mean - festivals, concerts, business...the sky is the limit.
Collaborate!!!
Usher is big on collaborations, and he said that collaborating with other artists who are just as passionate as he is helps him to push boundaries.
If he felt nervous to try something new, he just did it anyway because in the end, it's about creating connections and emotions through song.
Advice to aspiring artists
"What you put in, you get out."
Usher said he was highly motivated by artists like Michael Jackson and athletes like Michael Jordan, because they worked hard to become legends. He always wanted to be held in the same regard as those two.
The Super Bowl Halftime Show is certainly one of the biggest moments in any artist's career, so Usher is certainly knocking on that door after 30 years of making music.
Idea and vision
Usher said that he is motivated by simply believing in himself.
"All I had was the idea and the vision."
Basically, he had a dream, got determined to make it happen, and then never gave up until it did.
I wanted to put on a show that represented my idea of creativity"
How to fit 30 years into 13 minutes?
Usher talks about the challenge of fitting 30 years into 13 minutes.
But he won't tell us his setlist! He did say he considered which songs people know him for, which songs evoke emotions, special dance moments, things he created in Vegas, like...roller skating?! and sharing all of that with the world, in front of millions!
Usher enjoying the fruits of his labor
Usher made sure to give credit to the fans, and to the people who helped create his album.
BUT he is the only independent artist to ever perform the Super Bowl Halftime Show, which he is rightfully proud of!
Usher fulfilling the 30-year dream
Usher's memory of his 2007 Super Bowl performance was actually a negative one! His hand got stuck in a wire in the air as he was descending, but he made it out okay and no one else noticed. He landed in a perfect split!
But don't worry, his second memory was a positive one. He said that performing with the Black Eyed Peas inspired him to one day be the headliner. And here we are!
He's heeeere!
Looking slick in a long, black, leather jacket and dark green wide-legged pants and sunglasses! Usher has arrived.
Usher is almost here!
Nadeska has put on the "30 Years in the Making" trailer, and we can only assume that means...he's next.
Yeah!
Audience questions
The audience is taking the mic!
Reba McEntire said she's been lucky to have many, many mentors in her life.
Post Malone said the best advice he's ever received was from his dad. "You'll never make everybody happy, so just do it your way and do it with love". Awww. :)
Andra Day was asked the tough question of HOW can SPONGEBOB make the Super Bowl the best day ever on Nickelodeon and her response was the best - free Krabby Patties for everyone!
The pre-game entertainers are entertaining!
Reba McEntire is "tickled to pieces" to be a part of many firsts in this year's Super Bowl in Las Vegas!
Post Malone says he loves Vegas, but..."Vegas doesn't love me", but gave no other tea! Come on, man!
Andra Day confessed her fandom of the Lions, to which she received exactly one "woo" from the audience.
And now we have our singers for the pre-game!
Nadeska has brought out the famous Reba McEntire, Post Malone, and Andra Day!
Country music star RebaMcEntire has talked about how proud she is to perform the national anthem at the Super Bowl.
Post Malone (rocking the Dallas Cowboys jacket, I see you!) said he's super nervous to perform "America the Beautiful", a much different kind of anthem to his typical style. "I'm just gonna do my best," he said.
Andra Day, singing "Lift Every Voice and Sing", said she prepares for big performances like this by taking good care of herself and through prayer.
Sign language artists in the Super Bowl pre-game!
Nadeska has introduced our three sign language artists of this year's Super Bowl, all of whom are performing there for the first time.
We have Daniel Durant, who starred in the Oscar-winning movie “CODA," who will perform the national anthem, actress, model and dancer Anjel Piñero, who will sign "America the Beautiful", and actor and choreographer ShaheemSanchez, who will sign "Lift Every Voice and Sing."
They are all thrilled to be performing this unique art of sign language in song.
Here we go!
Apple Music has brought Nadeska out on stage to intro Usher!
We have movement!
The cameras are on, people! Usher is presumably in the building, though the couch remains empty.
Any moment now...
What time can we expect Usher's Halftime Show to start?
Kickoff for Super Bowl LVIII between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers is set for 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time. That said, if you're just looking to tune in for Usher, then you can expect the show to start at around 8 p.m. this Sunday!
When he will show up today...anyone's guess!
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While we wait, have a look at some of the details Usher has given about his performance, including talk about the exceptional choreography.
Ohhh...we can't wait!
Still waiting on the man of the hour to usher himself in (thanks for that one, Dave).
Don't go anywhere. We patiently await Usher's presence here with you.
Nadeska Alexis
The woman who will be interviewing Usher shortly is music journalist, presenter, and producer, Nadeska Alexis. She works on the Nadeska Show on Apple Music and R&B Now.
She interviewed Rihanna last year (as covered by our own Reem) before her Super Bowl Halftime Show and has also spoken with the likes of Pusha T, Designer, Schoolboy Q, and A$AP Rocky.
This is going to be a celebration. This is a moment that I've waited my entire life for, and I am not coming to disappoint.”
Coming Home
Usher’s first studio album in eight years will be released tomorrow, two days before his Super Bowl performance. “Good Good” is the one single he’s already released from the album and it features Summer Walker and 21 Savage.
The album is full of collaborations with different artists, including Burna Boy, H.E.R., Latto, and BTS’ Jungkook.
Now then…WHO IS USHER BRINGING AS A SPECIAL GUEST?
Well, Alicia Keys is definitely a possibility but she’s just one of several artists that Usher has collaborated with. Other big names he’s worked with include Chris Brown, Beyonce, Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, P. Diddy, David Guetta, Gucci Mane, Ludacris, Justin Bieber, Pitbull, Rick Ross, and Juicy J.
Any of those artists could show up and definitely more than one could potentially join. All Usher has said so har is that he doesn’t want to give too much away, but that we can expect to see his whole legacy represented on stage.
“I will say that that moment will not only represent me, but it will represent my legacy and the things that I've been a part of in collaboration. It will remind the world that when you do collaborate, something amazing does happen."
Let’s speculate - what could Usher’s setlist look like?
Usher has so many hits, it’s hard to say which ones he’ll choose to play in just 15 minutes. Of those many hits, he has had nine No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100.
He will most certainly perform “Yeah!”, which is the song he used in his Apple Music Halftime Show trailer and arguably his most popular.
It’s also highly likely he’ll play “Confessions, Part II”, one of the songs that mark a turning point in his career as an R&B artist. After that, there are so many possibilities, but here’s a few I’m thinking - “U Don’t Have to Call”, “You Make Me Wanna”, “U Remind Me”, “OMG”, DJ Got Us Fallin in Love”, “Love in This Club”, and at least one from his new album, perhaps his already-released single, “Good Good”.
There’s a good chance he’ll play at least one song from his slow jams mixed in there as well - potentially, “U Got It Bad” or “Burn”? He did say in an interview recently that “U Got It Bad” is his favorite song to sing.
If we think he might bring on Alicia Keys? “My Boo”. Which would be amazing.
Usher gets an extra 2 minutes!
Halftime performers typically only get about 13 minutes to perform at the Super Bowl, but Usher’s team was able to get a 15-minute slot secured.
Hopeful for hints!
Usher has already dropped a few hints about the setlist and possibility of bringing a surprise guest! But we’re hoping this interview brings even more clarity on what we can expect from to see and hear this Sunday.
Welcome to our LIVE updates of the Usher press conference!
Super Bowl LVIII is coming up THIS Sunday and for some, the best part about the game isn’t the game at all. It’s halftime, when each year, different musical artists put together a short, but spectacular performance for our listening and viewing pleasure. This year, as I’m sure you’ve heard by now, it’s Usher. And he has promised to “bring the world a show unlike anything else they’ve seen from me before."
With the Halftime Show just days away now, Apple Music Radio’s Nadeska Alexis will be talking with Usher about his performance, what we can expect, and of course, his new album “Coming Home”, which will drop tomorrow, just ahead of his Super Bowl performance.
We’ll be here to bring you the latest updates and of course, a little speculation, from today’s interview as we get ready to be wowed by Usher on Sunday!