Usher Teases Super Bowl HALFTIME SHOW Plans
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00:00 You are a busy, busy, busy, busy man.
00:02 - It's a good thing.
00:03 - I would say you are quite possibly
00:04 one of the most busy men in America
00:07 and still you make time for others.
00:10 Talk to me about your new partnership
00:12 and why it is so dear to your heart.
00:14 - Well, partnering with Sanofi is something
00:18 that comes as a result of my experience with T1D.
00:20 I have a child that is T1D
00:24 and to give an opportunity for people to have screening
00:29 is what today is all about.
00:32 I really wanna encourage the world
00:33 to make the pledge with me.
00:35 You've seen me online with this finger up
00:37 and I'm hoping that each and every person watching this
00:39 will make the pledge by going to theonepledge.com
00:43 and making the pledge to be tested for type 1 diabetes.
00:47 This is for your child or this is for you,
00:49 this is for each and every person that might, you know,
00:53 potentially have type 1 diabetes.
00:55 But it is something, again, that is very personal
00:59 and being able to share my perspective,
01:01 being able to share the access that I think
01:04 could help people get prepared for the journey
01:06 of living with type 1 diabetes
01:08 is what the pledge is all about.
01:10 - And what is it about your child's journey
01:13 with type 1 diabetes that inspired you
01:15 to not only educate but also encourage others
01:19 to take the One Pledge?
01:20 - This is something that I think is important for us.
01:24 It is not avoidable.
01:26 T1D is not something that you can prevent.
01:29 But to be able to have the information
01:33 and be prepared for that journey
01:35 is really something that I think is very important.
01:38 Had I had this, I would have felt a lot better
01:40 about the process of one getting acclimated
01:43 and understanding what it is to live with a child
01:46 who is T1D because you ultimately,
01:49 it feels as though you are living with it yourself.
01:53 You know, rather you're getting an alert
01:55 that your child's blood glucose levels are low or high
01:59 or they have to eat a certain way
02:00 or they have to administer insulin,
02:03 all things of which you will learn from a physician
02:06 and are there within the process.
02:10 So this information is what I'm hoping will help
02:13 to kickstart and either make certain
02:15 that that journey is a little bit more accommodating.
02:18 - Halloween just passed.
02:20 I'm thinking about your kids
02:22 and thinking about they're getting candy
02:24 or they're on a play date
02:25 and they're hanging out with friends.
02:26 Is there a constant worry or thought, anxiety?
02:29 - Yeah, there's, you know, if you have children period,
02:33 you're constantly worried about them.
02:35 You're constantly thinking about them.
02:37 You're constantly conscious of their health long-term,
02:40 not just, you know, what they eat on a daily basis,
02:42 but how, you know, what is happening with them
02:45 in this current state is gonna affect their life.
02:48 But here's what I will tell you as a T1D parent.
02:54 Your child can live a normal life.
02:56 There are ways to manage your blood glucose levels.
03:01 Insulin is one.
03:03 And, you know, so long as they are taking insulin,
03:07 there's a balance there.
03:10 But nonetheless, you know, I just want people to know
03:14 that this is something that is serious
03:16 and it is worth the pledge enough for me to say it,
03:20 for me to share my experience,
03:21 for me to share my perspective and say,
03:23 listen, please take the One Pledge with me.
03:27 Go to the onepledge.com, take the pledge, be tested,
03:31 speak with your physician and get ahead.
03:35 You know, know if you are a T1D.
03:37 Part of the battle is the information.
03:39 You gotta, you know, you have to get ahead of it.
03:44 - It sounds like you're all doing this as a family,
03:47 which I think is so beautiful.
03:48 And I appreciate you for sharing this knowledge on me.
03:51 I'm gonna talk to my brothers
03:53 and tell my brothers, get the kids tested.
03:54 - Will you take the pledge with me?
03:55 - I'm taking the pledge, the One Pledge, today.
03:58 Today, I start right now.
03:59 You have four beautiful kids at home.
04:04 Now I've heard you say that you were born to be a dad.
04:08 What is Usher the father like?
04:10 And do your kids know you're cool?
04:12 - I don't think they will tell me that I'm cool.
04:17 I think they want me to earn their affection.
04:22 - I feel that.
04:23 My nephew is 21 years old and he has told me,
04:25 he said, "Auntie Tunde, please, please, please,
04:27 with this Gen Z, you gotta stop.
04:28 You're not one of us.
04:29 You're not one of us."
04:30 - But you know what?
04:31 When we were kids, we felt that way about our parents.
04:34 I was raised primarily by my mom in a single parent home.
04:38 Thank God I had uncles and coaches and other references
04:43 of what it would be to be a responsible
04:45 and also to dedicated, committed, you know, male figure.
04:50 So why do I say I was born to be a dad?
04:53 Probably because I didn't have one.
04:55 And the father that I wanted is the father I am.
05:00 The father that is committed,
05:01 the father that is dedicated,
05:03 the father that is at times frustrated,
05:06 but you know, still patient enough to figure out what it is.
05:09 You know, you're gonna have ups and downs,
05:11 but I am doing my best.
05:13 I am trying my hardest to be the best father
05:15 that I possibly can to all of my kids.
05:17 - Yes.
05:18 Now, do any of your kids want to follow
05:19 in your fly footsteps?
05:21 Anybody express interest in music?
05:24 - One of my kids, well, actually all of my kids love music.
05:27 And it is yet to be determined if any of them
05:30 will be artists because they haven't gone in the studio
05:32 and literally said, "I wanna do that."
05:34 They are entertaining.
05:35 They love to entertain, rather as comedian,
05:38 'cause we all kind of are comedians
05:40 in our own right at home.
05:43 But there's one who wants to play instruments.
05:48 He wants to sing.
05:49 And then there's the other two who are just singing
05:53 and dancing all the time, but they can't really talk.
05:56 - Right, we need dancers in the group though.
05:57 It's a family thing.
05:58 - They're still putting sentences together.
06:00 And the one thing that brings us all together is music.
06:03 So, but I guess I'm cool because my two and three year old,
06:07 they like caught up.
06:08 That's one of their favorite songs.
06:10 - And they are in popular opinion on that one.
06:12 - Come on now.
06:13 - Okay, they're in popular opinion.
06:14 - And they're like, "Dad, let's skate.
06:16 "I wanna skate."
06:16 And I'm like, "Okay, they must've got that
06:18 "from seeing me skate."
06:19 So I guess I'm cool in their eyes.
06:21 - Well, at least you're cool.
06:22 They're looking up to you.
06:23 Yeah, they wanna do what you're doing.
06:24 Do they recognize that other people think you're cool?
06:28 Do they see the fandom around you?
06:30 - The beauty of it is they probably
06:33 don't care about that as much.
06:35 And that normalcy of being, you know,
06:40 Mr. Raymond, as my little one calls me,
06:43 is just about dad.
06:46 I'm like, "No, I'm not Mr. Raymond, I'm dad.
06:48 "What are you talking about?"
06:49 No, but yeah, I love the balance.
06:54 Maybe I'm a Libra, right?
06:55 But the balance and the dichotomy of all of it
06:58 working together, that's just about passion.
07:01 Passion in music, passion and commitment
07:03 for what it is that I said I wanted to do
07:05 at a very young age.
07:06 Hopefully that being inspiring to them
07:08 to find what they are passionate about,
07:10 knowing that they have a committed family
07:13 and a village that supports their growth
07:16 and their passion.
07:18 And then, just being a dad who is committed
07:21 to figuring it out, to being there
07:24 and going through whatever I gotta go through,
07:27 or whatever I gotta go through,
07:29 or whatever I gotta go through,
07:30 or whatever I gotta go through
07:33 in order to figure it out.
07:34 - That's real talk right there.
07:35 - Yeah, it is.
07:36 - So let's talk about the thing
07:39 that we're not talking about.
07:40 You are about to hit the stage on one,
07:44 and perform on one of the most ultimate platforms
07:48 in the world of all time, ever.
07:51 Most of us will never attend a Super Bowl,
07:53 much less perform at one.
07:56 How do you wrap your head around
07:57 mentally and physically preparing for something like that?
08:00 - It takes a long time to get prepared
08:05 for 30 years of a career,
08:07 is the preparation for that moment.
08:09 I don't know if it was too soon,
08:11 or if it was soon enough.
08:13 But I'm here, I have it, I'm excited.
08:17 I'm really, really happy to see what has happened
08:19 with me in Las Vegas up until this moment.
08:22 Couldn't have thought of a better crescendo
08:23 for this year, at the end of 100 shows
08:26 as a residency, to now go across the street
08:29 and play the stadium.
08:31 So, and I'm not playing the same show
08:33 for those people who've actually come to the show.
08:36 The energy that, and effort, and belief
08:39 that was put in the start of Las Vegas residency.
08:43 That was the beginning.
08:44 And since then, it's just been this amazing,
08:47 amazing journey, amazing celebration of my music,
08:52 amazing celebration of the culture
08:54 that has been created through that.
08:56 And to be able to have this as a crescendo to that,
08:59 like a grand moment, playing the biggest stage in the world.
09:03 - In the world. - The world.
09:05 - In the world. - Top flight,
09:06 the world, Craig. - Yeah, yeah.
09:07 - The world, Craig. - Yeah.
09:09 - You know who I'm saying?
09:09 This is--
09:10 - You said the culture that has been created through it,
09:12 the culture that has been created through your music.
09:15 When I think about the most ultimate
09:17 Super Bowl halftime performances of all time,
09:20 I, quick names that come to mind,
09:22 Prince, Michael Jackson, Beyonce.
09:25 My prediction is that we add Usher to that list.
09:30 What do you want your performance to feel like?
09:35 - A celebration. - Eee.
09:36 - Yeah. - Yeah.
09:37 An introduction of that culture, as I said.
09:41 When I speak of the culture of music
09:44 and entertainment, right?
09:47 It could be a specific thing that you wear,
09:50 how you look, how you dance,
09:52 all the things that are associated
09:53 with that level of entertainment.
09:55 For me, it's life.
09:56 I think that my life has given me the opportunity
10:00 to tell a story that's been relevant
10:01 to people all around the world.
10:03 It gave people their first word
10:05 if they didn't speak English.
10:07 It gave people an opportunity to emote
10:11 and be honest and be transparent.
10:12 It gave people a celebration.
10:15 It gave people the license to love.
10:17 It gave people the license to fall apart.
10:20 It gave people the license to celebrate
10:22 specific cultures from certain places,
10:24 experiences, and dynamics of different genres of music.
10:27 All of those things are inside
10:29 of what that culture is for me,
10:31 and I get a chance to celebrate it for 13 minutes.
10:34 - For 13 minutes. - Not a long time.
10:35 - For 13 minutes.
10:36 - It's the hardest 13 minutes of my life.
10:38 - I'm gonna take you through a round.
10:39 - What should be the most celebrated.
10:41 - Best, yes, and I hope you are able
10:42 to be so present in that 13 minutes
10:45 and taking all the love around you.
10:46 I have a round of rapid fire
10:47 that I'm gonna take you through.
10:48 You have to quickly give me a response.
10:50 Are you ready?
10:51 - I'm ready.
10:52 - Okay.
10:53 What is the song that if you didn't play,
10:57 the fans would go nuts that you didn't play that song?
11:00 - Yeah.
11:01 Yeah.
11:05 - Oh, I thought you were gonna say yeah!
11:06 (laughing)
11:07 Okay, mine is--
11:08 - You said quick, you said rapid.
11:09 - I was doing total quick, I wasn't ready for the light.
11:12 Okay, back to the fire speed.
11:14 Will there be any cameos?
11:15 - I can't tell you that.
11:18 - Okay, wink at us Justin Bieber
11:19 'cause I'm talking about it online.
11:20 - I can't tell you that.
11:21 - Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, Kim--
11:24 - The element of surprise is what I think
11:27 makes this so grand.
11:28 If you're talking about it, good, got it.
11:30 - Okay, give me this thing.
11:31 So you're in Vegas right now, residency,
11:34 you've extended to December,
11:35 you've had stars like Queen Latifah, Lil' Kim,
11:38 Kim Kardashian come out, you serenaded Doja Cat,
11:40 you serenaded Jessica Alba.
11:42 Will there be a serenade at the Super Bowl
11:44 and will you be on roller skates?
11:46 - Ooh, this is good questions.
11:48 - I got a line full of ladies
11:49 that would like to be serenaded.
11:50 - Well, hey listen, you know,
11:52 if they wanna come front and center,
11:54 you know, the closer you are in proximity
11:56 then the more likely of a chance
11:58 that I have to be able to serenade you.
12:01 - Okay, okay.
12:02 - And skating is obviously something that you know I love.
12:05 - Right.
12:06 - So, um, you know, these affirmations,
12:08 this idea that you putting this great energy out here,
12:11 you know, you might be onto something,
12:12 you might wanna keep going.
12:13 - Okay, okay, I'll take that as a yes.
12:16 - Your album drops the same day as the Super Bowl,
12:21 it's titled Coming Home.
12:23 Why did you name the title Coming Home?
12:25 What does it mean to you?
12:26 - Coming Home is something that has been a journey
12:28 of the last some odd years of my life.
12:31 Every album that I've made has been, you know,
12:36 the cataloging of emotions and growth or lack thereof.
12:45 I think, I feel like the reason why I chose Coming Home,
12:49 not only because it's an idea about where home is,
12:54 but what is home to me.
12:56 Now that I've made this entire circle
12:59 within the process of being an artist
13:02 who came through a label,
13:03 now being an independent artist along with GAMMA
13:07 and this opportunity to work with some of the people
13:11 that I started with, but having a different perspective,
13:14 the coming home in some way after a long journey
13:17 is what it is.
13:18 I will be the first independent artist
13:20 to ever play the Super Bowl.
13:22 - Yes sir, yes sir, usher.
13:26 We're taking the pledge.
13:27 - There you go.
13:28 - We're taking the pledge.
13:29 Congratulations on Las Vegas.
13:30 Congratulations on the Super Bowl.
13:32 We can't wait to see you there.
13:33 - Thank you very much.
13:34 I hope to see you guys there too.
13:35 - Thank you.
13:36 (upbeat music)
13:38 (upbeat music)
13:42 (upbeat music)
13:44 (upbeat music)
13:47 (upbeat music)