The pressure is on forUsher!In a press conference interview withApple Musicon Thursday, the R&B superstar, 45, opened up about creating a career-spanningSuper BowlLVIIIhalftime show performancethat doesn’t disappoint.“I gotta do it in 13 minutes,” Usher said of his forthcoming set. “That makes it a bit difficult.“He added that “it’s definitely been a challenge to squeeze 30 years into 13 minutes.“Usher speaks during the Super Bowl LVIII Pregame & Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show press conference at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center on Feb. 8, 2024 in Las Vegas.Kevin Mazur/GettyWhen asked about how he approached the set list for his performance, Usher noted there have been “fantasy lists” going around that featured dream performers and songs that he took note of when coming up with it.“I was very mindful of my past, celebrating my present —which is here in Las Vegas— and thinking about where we’re headed in the future,” the “U Got It Bad” performer said. “That was really the idea.“Usher is interviewed during the Super Bowl LVIII Pregame & Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show press conference at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center on Feb. 8, 2024 in Las Vegas.Candice Ward/GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Usher explained that he considered the songs that people know him for and celebrated the journey of “life, love and emotion” that have been offered in his music.“I thought about a few moments that were special in dance. I thought about some things that I had created here in Las Vegas like skating and doing things that I had not done on stage up until this point to be able to share that with the world,” he explained.Usher added: “For everybody thatheard about my show in Las Vegas, you’ll now get a chance to see some of what I did here. But you’re going to get the best of it because it’s before 60,000 people in this room — and hopefully 180,000 people, 80 million people for the world to see.“Usher speaks onstage during the Super Bowl LVIII Pregame & Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show press conference at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center on Feb. 8, 2024 in Las Vegas.Ethan Miller/GettyAfter the “Yeah!” artist’s performance at theSuper BowlLVIIIhalftime showand theend of his Las Vegas residency, he’ll be embarking ona North American tour.The Live Nation tour, dubbed the USHER: Past Present Future tour, will a career-spanning set, including hits from his first album, 1994’sUsher, to new singles from his ninth studio albumComing Home, which released Friday, ahead of the Super Bowl.“Usher is bringing his smooth R&B tracks, infectious smile and slick moves to fans all across the globe,” read a press release for the tour.The tour is set to kick off on Aug. 20 at the Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. before heading to cities like Brooklyn, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Toronto, Canada. The final date will take place at Chicago’s United Center on Oct. 29.
The pressure is on forUsher!
In a press conference interview withApple Musicon Thursday, the R&B superstar, 45, opened up about creating a career-spanningSuper BowlLVIIIhalftime show performancethat doesn’t disappoint.
“I gotta do it in 13 minutes,” Usher said of his forthcoming set. “That makes it a bit difficult.”
He added that “it’s definitely been a challenge to squeeze 30 years into 13 minutes.”
Usher speaks during the Super Bowl LVIII Pregame & Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show press conference at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center on Feb. 8, 2024 in Las Vegas.Kevin Mazur/Getty
Kevin Mazur/Getty
When asked about how he approached the set list for his performance, Usher noted there have been “fantasy lists” going around that featured dream performers and songs that he took note of when coming up with it.
“I was very mindful of my past, celebrating my present —which is here in Las Vegas— and thinking about where we’re headed in the future,” the “U Got It Bad” performer said. “That was really the idea.”
Usher is interviewed during the Super Bowl LVIII Pregame & Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show press conference at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center on Feb. 8, 2024 in Las Vegas.Candice Ward/Getty
Candice Ward/Getty
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Usher explained that he considered the songs that people know him for and celebrated the journey of “life, love and emotion” that have been offered in his music.
“I thought about a few moments that were special in dance. I thought about some things that I had created here in Las Vegas like skating and doing things that I had not done on stage up until this point to be able to share that with the world,” he explained.
Usher added: “For everybody thatheard about my show in Las Vegas, you’ll now get a chance to see some of what I did here. But you’re going to get the best of it because it’s before 60,000 people in this room — and hopefully 180,000 people, 80 million people for the world to see.”
Usher speaks onstage during the Super Bowl LVIII Pregame & Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show press conference at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center on Feb. 8, 2024 in Las Vegas.Ethan Miller/Getty
Ethan Miller/Getty
After the “Yeah!” artist’s performance at theSuper BowlLVIIIhalftime showand theend of his Las Vegas residency, he’ll be embarking ona North American tour.
The Live Nation tour, dubbed the USHER: Past Present Future tour, will a career-spanning set, including hits from his first album, 1994’sUsher, to new singles from his ninth studio albumComing Home, which released Friday, ahead of the Super Bowl.
“Usher is bringing his smooth R&B tracks, infectious smile and slick moves to fans all across the globe,” read a press release for the tour.
The tour is set to kick off on Aug. 20 at the Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. before heading to cities like Brooklyn, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Toronto, Canada. The final date will take place at Chicago’s United Center on Oct. 29.
source: people.com
