Billboard Cover
Page: 5
Usher teases his highly anticipated Super Bowl Halftime performance, talks about the advice and encouragement he’s received from other Super Bowl Halftime show performers like Katy Perry and Rihanna, his new album Coming Home, why people still resonate with his album Confessions 20 years later, his experience doing his successful Las Vegas residency and whether he’ll return to it, his thoughts on where the future of R&B music is going and more.
UsherPlayin’ the Super Bowl man.
Gail MitchellThis is Gail Mitchell, Executive Director of R&B and Hip-Hop for Billboard magazine, and I couldn’t be more thrilled because to my left is the one and only Usher.
UsherHey Gail, how you doing? How are you doing love? It’s been a while.
Gail MitchellIt hasn’t been a long time actually it’s been three years.
UsherWell three years actually is for everybody else is a long time.
Gail MitchellBut deja vu? Because we were sitting at Caesars Palace, yes, inside the theater. And you were rehearsing the first iteration of your residency. And look at you now on that stage Park MGM and now you’re going to be on a global stage.
UsherVery happy to have been able to have that moment with you very happy to have started that and then 100 shows later on now plays a Super Bowl in Las Vegas. I’m very, very happy.
Gail MitchellYou look very calm, cool and collected outside. It’s a matter of days at this point, right?
UsherI’m trying my hardest not to overthink it but it’s literally 12 to 15 minutes, if I can manage to impress the entire world, over 30 years of a career within 15 minutes. It’s, it’s a lot, you know, I’m definitely happy that I’m coming off a successful residency and kind of in the rhythm of it overall. Because otherwise, you know, you kind of have to restart and relive the moments, but every day going on that stage from Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, it just reminded me of what my music has meant, and how people feel about me, and how I feel about it. You know, after you know, years and years are doing this, you can go tired, and just kind of grow frustrated, especially as music changes the standards of how we count, it changes the standard of what is hot, what’s not the standard of what’s cool, and what is and all of those things can kind of get to your mind. And, you know, make you even question if you really want to continue to do but when I went to Vegas, it just made me excited about all of it all over again.
Watch the full video above!
If there’s one word that Usher personifies, it’s “cool.” The word applies to his still-captivating vocals, deep catalog of multigenerational R&B/pop hits, fluid footwork, keen fashion sense…
Rising regional Mexican star Ivan Cornejo talks about how he started singing, kickstarting his career on TikTok, how Natanael Cano inspired him to make regional Mexican music, which artists and producers he wants to work with, the future of regional Mexican music and more! Ivan Cornejo:It’s a good feeling you know being an influence. And […]
Laufey shares how she created her unique sound and how she was inspired to start making Jazz music. She opens up about being discovered on TikTok, the advice she’s received from artists such as Norah Jones and Sara Bareilles, being inspired by Taylor Swift’s songwriting, her Grammy nomination for best traditional pop vocal album, the […]
Jamaican dancehall artist Teejay talks about the success he’s found on TikTok with his song “Drift,” working with Davido and French Montana on the “Drift” remix, the influence of Afrobeats, the difference between reggae and dancehall music, the future of dancehall and more! TeejayWhen people talk about dancehall artists, you don’t have to just say, […]
Up-and-coming rapper Sexyy Red shares how she started rapping, the success of her song “Pound Town” and collaborating with Nicki Minaj, going on tour with Drake, hiding her pregnancy while on tour, all the viral success she’s had in the last year and more for Billboard’s future of hip-hop cover. Sexyy RedThey be callin’ me […]
Odetari and 6arelyhuman talk about their biggest music influences, going viral and finding success on TikTok, how they started working and collaborating together, the future of EDM and more. OdetariDo we feel like we’re underground? I don’t know. The numbers are… 6arelyhumanNot really… OdetariKinda not underground. 6arelyhumanI really started experimenting with a lot of different […]
“I forgot to wear the knee pads,” Karol G says ruefully. “I’m going to have scrapes.” She beams. For a soaking wet pop star who has just been dragged through a shallow pool, Karol looks remarkably happy. Moments before, a group of writhing, shirtless male dancers had lifted Karol, dressed in a white bikini and transparent […]
Colombian superstar Karol G opens up about becoming the first woman to have a Spanish-language album, Mañana Será Bonito, reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, her thoughts on doing a global stadium tour, her relationship with Feid, wanting to start a record label, giving back to her community and more.
Karol GThe energy people release, is directed toward me and it’s like I’m a battery, loading.
Karol GHey what’s up, I am Karol G and you are watching, Billboard.
Karol GIt had never happened. Yes it’s true! We are celebrating, we celebrate a lot as a team, but it’s crazy for me to think my album was the first album in Spanish to hit No. 1. To think Karol G is the first female Latin artist on a global stadium tour, is very crazy.
Karol GI started in 2006 and I realized this month we celebrate 4 years of “Tusa.” But then, my first songs were released 15 or 16 years age. Imagine spending 15 years and thinking when will my moment come?
Karol G:Someone told me, “Are you doing a stadium tour?” Beyoncé is doing stadiums. Taylor Swift is doing stadium tours. Are you ready for stadium tour? I said no. I’m not ready today. But I’ll be ready because it depends on me and my commitment. And on my team, the tour was planned for 2025. We did the Puerto Rico concert in March. At that moment, which was 11 days after the album was released people knew the whole album.
Karol G:When I say “I go with the flow,” at the first show, I didn’t have the whole album and there were three dates. In the second, I had 4 more songs, and in the third show, I did the whole album. That’s where I sat and said I’m not interested in numbers, not interested in risk, not interested in anything. I want to do this tour and I want it to be global.
Watch the full video above!
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.
We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.