Usher is sharing more details about how — and why — he’s putting R&B music in the spotlight during his highly anticipated Super Bowl LVIII I halftime performance later this month.
In an interview that was broadcast on Good morning America on Friday, he told reporter Kelley Carter that he thinks about the struggles past black artists have had to endure so that, at age 45, he can be the musician to headline the live entertainment on football’s biggest night.
Usher said that when planning his performance, he thought about artists of the past “who at some point had to go through kitchens to even be able to perform in front of an audience.”
“They had to go back through that same door, you know, fearing for their lives because they went to the next state to do the same thing,” he continued.
“So I’m walking in the front door with this,” Usher added with a smile.
Usher on Good Morning America.
ABC news
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The “My Boo” singer had three decades worth of music to choose from for his halftime show, and he told Carter he also thought about his friends and mentors in the industry when planning the upcoming show.
“I didn’t start where I am now and I didn’t get there by myself,” he said. “So everybody that was a part of it, I carry them with me. All my fans, my loved ones — people who maybe felt like they were forgotten, they weren’t. I carry you with me when I walk on that stage that night.”
Usher Reveals Collaborative Tracklist For New Album ‘Coming Home’ Ahead Of Super Bowl Halftime Show
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Usher performs in Detroit in December 2023.
Scott Legato/Getty Images for iHeartRadio
Usher also told Carter that the initial rush of adrenaline he got when he found out he was confirmed to host the show wore off when he saw how much work it was, but, “I’m ready,” he said.
The “OMG” singer didn’t reveal any specific details or surprises to expect from the performance, but previously said in an interview for the digital cover of Vogue that he hopes people who watch the Super Bowl just for the football will see his show and have a “healing” experience.
He threw in at least one costume change, roller skating and some guest appearances with choreography.
Usher will perform during the Super Bowl halftime on February 11th.
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Source: HIS Education