For welcome to the Super Bowl 58 pregame and the Apple music Super Bowl 58 halftime show press conference from Apple music radio and the host of the nesca show please welcome nesca Alexis good morning I’m nesca and it is my pleasure to welcome you to the Super Bowl 58
Pregame and apple music Super Bowl 58 halftime show press conference at Apple we love music we’re passionate about celebrating and supporting artists about elevating conversations around music and giving fans worldwide the best one of the kind experiences like this one which is streaming live globally on Apple
Music we’re thrilled to be joining the NFL and Rock Nation to bring the Apple music Super Bowl halftime show to life and of course we can’t wait to see Usher’s headlining performance it’s been 30 years in the making we’re going to chat with Usher in just a few minutes
Right now let’s kick it off with the pregame I’m honored to introduce American Sign Language interpreter Dale neyer and three American Sign Language performers appearing at this year’s Super Bowl on behalf of the National Association of the death performing America the Beautiful is Angel Pinero performing The National
Anthem is Daniel Durant and Performing lift every voice and sing shahen sanche good morning beautiful people good morning good morning so I know for all of you it’s your first time signing at the Super Bowl but uh shahim I heard a little rumor that you’ve actually met our headlining performer
Before can you tell us about that for sure yeah so I met AER in the past um I taught him some amican sign language had to sign his name and he’s a quick learner I’ll say that uh he learned American Sign Language and he’s doing great that really does not surprise me
He seems like a man who can do it all uh Angel you’ll be signing with a post how are you feeling about that uh I am so so excited not just to sign America the Beautiful with post Malone but to be on one of the most famous Platforms in the world at the
Super Bowl so just to share my art I know that uh my hands and his voice his voice together are just going to be amazing I can’t wait to share that with everybody oh absolutely it’s going to be so much fun and the songs that you’re
Signing are so powerful they evoke a lot of emotion uh in people so I’m wondering as you were rehearsing what were you feeling how about you Daniel yeah let’s see how I was feeling during rehearsals uh with the national anthem it’s such an inspiring song so proud to be an American the history
There how we became independent how we are serving the country it’s just an amazing song and I will say as I started to rehearse I just had goosebumps I cannot wait to just make it happen on Sunday so looking forward to it all right and you know
As you were rehearsing did you notice anything about these songs or learn something that maybe you hadn’t before shahim or Angel shahim go ahead well what I learned just trying to figure out the meaning of the songs how to make that connection with the song uh obviously
I’m deaf and of course I’ve never heard that song before so I started learning about the song right and so learning the meaning behind it memorizing it and how different it is just feeling the vibe uh but never give up right there’s no excuses just keep on rehearsing no excuses I love that
Angel so to be honest with you I did not know uh what America of the beautiful was until I started I was selected by the National Association of the deaf in love sign and I started reading up on it about Miracle beautiful and it was
Written by a female and I did not know that and I think that’s so empowering to know that and not just that but this is a song and in the song she talks about how she was so present how she really experienced life you know sometimes it’s
Just so easy you’re going through life and you’re so busy you’re not taking it in you forget to take a moment and breathe you know uh we need to enjoy life and experience things so that’s was a huge benefit for me I I I loved learning about the song see I just
Learned something new as well how about for you Daniel yeah so the last time I sung the National Anthem I think it was an elementary school right so uh after that of course you know always thankful to the superv to provide the interpreters at all these different performance for
Many many years watched it every year a lot of those folks were my friends and so now here we are it’s my turn and I feel so honored to be here and I feel like this song the learning about it and rehearsing it you know it’s almost like
A playground for me right just learning all the different aspects all the different signs and I I just want to do a great job and play around with it and and just give my interpretation of that song you’re definitely going to do a great job and I know your family and
Friends are going to be so proud rooting for you at home and you know I know for all of you and and shahim especially you’re very passionate about Bridging the Gap between the hearing and the deaf community so I wonder for all of you does this feel like just one of the
Biggest opportunities possible to do that oh for sure I feel it’s such a great opportunity for all of us because I want people to see how deaf people can work together how we can dance how we can incorporate sign language in all these different ways inclusion showing the world that anything is
Possible and I think what’s really fascinating is that with us doing the pregame right it’s just a completely different translation uh from the halftime show this is so different uh different artists uh just a beautiful way to express these songs and and I know shahim once you’re on stage at the
Halftime show you’re going to you’re just going to do it you’re going to be having people dancing in their seats oh yeah is also an incredible dancer so look all I can say now is have fun we’ll be watching on Sunday just go out there and enjoy yourselves thank you so much
Thank you so much and now we continue our pregame line up please help me to welcome the pregame artist singing on Sunday Reba McIntyre post Malone and Andre day good morning look at you three good morning come have a seat here come get comfortable with me hi how y’all
Doing and they’re all here to see you that’s nice you three look really really good together I think if you dro the country pop rock R&B soul album I would def stream that on Apple music oh thanks that’s a great idea love that planting planting a little seed for you so Reba
You have done everything from Broadway to TV award shows you are a veteran you’ve even sung the anthem before but never at the Super Bowl what does this moment mean to you well it means a lot you’re right I haven’t sng the national anthem at the Super Bowl I am honored
Beyond words to be chosen to get to sing it it means that I get to sing a very special song uh for all Americans people people all around the world who have really worked so hard for our freedom and to give us peace and uh as I said
Earlier it’s not about me walking out on I’m the representation of this song and I’m just honored to get to sing it it’s a good one I’ve been doing it for 50 years and I’m really proud to get to sing it oh I can’t wait to see it and
This man sitting next to you post Malone you’ve had a few anthemic hits in your in your career I mean something real yeah is even generous is something real is and official you know college football Anthem either so how does it feel to be performing a bit more of a
Classic anthem on Sunday nerve acing um I’m very nervous um but excited I’m excited um I don’t know it’s just fun uh and super epic to be able to go out there and and sing and um a song so many beautiful artists have sang before on
This stage and um I’m just going to do my best just do my best and give it what I got so your best is going to be perfect and I can’t imagine you actually being nervous but so for all of you too uh Andre what how do you prepare for a
Performance like this especially before you step onto the field I’m asking for a shy friend who has stage fright but still does it anyway how do you really get in the zone right before a performance like this um I usually have a nervous breakdown before I I’m I’m
Just kidding Che sometimes I’m kidding um no I mean I I I’m super nervous too you know I I’m you know I think you just you kind of want to honor the moment and the song and and you want to do well you know what I mean of course but it’s
Really I think as Rea said is just about you know like honoring the moment and um just being a vessel um I prepare by just for me just trying to make sure my voice is in good shape trying to make sure I’m taking care of myself trying to make
Sure I know all the words and what I’m doing um and then prayer prayer is a big thing for me you know as an artist so that’s that’s usually how I prepare and I probably won’t be much different on Sunday that sounds like good preparation routine Reba since you’ve been doing
This such a long time do you have any tips how do you prepare well I prepare by being prepared I’ve been singing the National Anthem in the shower when we get in the car Rex my boyfriend is a huge football fan played all sports when
He was going to school and so he’ll say Okay sing it one more time I said I think I know the words real good right now so I’m all right but just to be prepared and know that everybody’s going to be singing it with me that helps you
Know if I know they’re singing along and they’re remembering and having fun too that’s easier on me but just to be prepared when you walk out there and preparation is key it’s the one thing you can control absolutely right that’s what I’ve learned so post are you also
Singing in the shower before well yeah that’s right I I do the same thing I sing it all the time and my family just tries to get me shut up but they get sick of hearing you do that you know Andre you’re singing you’re performing lift every voice and sing with AKA the
Black national anthem I’ve been singing since I was in elementary school so I will be in that Stadium singing off key along with you um but for people who are hearing thisy call you’re so kind I’m a terrible singer that’s why you’re doing it and
Not me but um for people who will be hearing it for the first time and it’s such a big audience at the halftime show how does it feel for you to be sharing such an important piece of our culture with the world um it feels it’s a great question it’s a heavy
Question you could be honest we’re all friends here yeah no I I think first of all it’s more than anything it’s an honor you know it’s exciting and um it feels intentional I like to do things with intention and with purpose and um you know I think I I kind of referenced
My mom and I were talking about it the other day and she said you know ultimately the song is a hym and I’m like it is it’s a hym of Triumph you know and um that’s what I want people to encounter when I sing the song I want
Them to know that like we have Victory and we have peace already you know AD mean and so um I don’t you know I I definitely want um it just it feels like there’s an honor and it’s you know it’s funny there’s a burden but it’s not so
Much a burden I keep telling people I just really want to diminish myself as much as possible and for me spiritually just make space for a move of God and that’s what I’m hoping happens you know yeah I feel like you might have an outof body experience while while performing
Hope so be great you know at the super good cuz my body’s going to be shaking like hell you what I’m saying now have the three of you attended a lot of Super Bowls I Know Reba you have spent so much time in Vegas by the way so she had uh the
Longest running country residency in Vegas you should actually be hosting this so I guess I’m grateful that they let me do this but yeah what have your experiences been at Super Bowls in the past well I’ve gotten to go to one in uh tempy Arizona 95 when the Dallas Cowboys
Played and so getting to come back here but I love Las Vegas my first time here was in 83 with The Statler Brothers opening uh for them at the GM granny getting to come back now to sing at the Super Bowl the first time that the Super
Bowl has been in Las Vegas uh Nevada it’s never been in Nevada in the state of Nevada so this is a first for a lot of things and I’m just tickled to pieces to be a part of it tickle to Pieces I’m stealing that one I really I really like
That post what about you have you had a lot of Super Bowl experiences no ma’am um polite you’re so polite this will be this will be my first one how is that possible by the way that’s a great question well see just so busy all the time or Jack it you
Know you know next year we got it but um yeah huh uh but I love Vegas uh Vegas doesn’t love me but you want to tell us about any Vegas experiences you had oh AB no there a couple casinos could tell you about them okay they the casinos love me you know that’s
Andrew how about you any Super Bowl experiences prior to this any Super Bowl experiences prior to this I remember being in kindergarten I think when uh the Chargers went to the Super Bowl you have memories from kindergarten I can’t remember what I did last week that was a big one I just remember
It being painted on a mural wall and everybody was like you should be super proud and I was like okay I am so I have that memory and then my father I mean he you know I’ve been a lions fan for a long time so I have have that memory
From this playoffs but there was one did you hear that one single chair in right that was really sad no other lons in the audience so you know once you are done with your performances you get to sit back and enjoy the halftime show any thoughts on what’s coming have you ever
Seen Usher perform before any of you any Clips or anything yes clips for sure I’ve never actually seen him live what are you what are you expecting Andra I mean Usher’s a legend so I’m expecting an immaculate performance voice you know he’s an incredible singer incredible
Performer dancer so I expect to be fully inspired it’s going to be really really an incredible show REO what are you planning for the rest of your time in Vegas oh well eat you know go see as many shows as you can you eat the food is spectacular maybe hit a little shoing
Everyone a little bit you plans you should take posts with you it seems like you only spends time at the my money you know you already all your money on this ja right there and your boots you want to show them your boots yes ma’am sure
Why not yeah see these are these are the you can’t tell next year specials next year [Laughter] special we’ll go shopping we’ll have fun I would love that I would rather go shopping than um just back to the Vegas thing the tables the full Vegas experience all right I’m really looking
Forward to this so we also do for you have some questions from our youth reporters should we get into that it’s cool all right let’s do this so our first question is going to be from Cayenne Moy from Big Brothers Big Sisters hi Cayenne hello my name is
Cayenne Moy I’m a little from Big Brothers Big Sisters Association of Southern Nevada my first question is for you Reba okay what is one mentorship moment that has therefore changed your life oh my gosh just one wow I’ve had a lot of mentors thank God in my career my
Life Mom and Daddy they they said when you say you’re you’re going to do something you do it you stick with what you say you can’t back down and you can’t back out so I’ve carried that throughout my life I’ve had great mentors professionally in the music business The Statler Brothers Mel Tillis
Conway Twitty red steall and they always say treat your business like a business if you hoop it all off it won’t be there with you tomorrow so treat it like a business and it’ll take care of you thank you for that thank you it’s a great question thank you k
Our next question is from Brandon tocado our super kid correspondent from the Special Olympics here in Vegas hey post Malone um my first question is what is the best advice you ever gotten good question Reba’s answer was so thorough and amazing feeling the pressure now um
I guess I don’t know the best one I got is my dad told me he you you’ll never make everybody happy so just be yourself and um just do your best at at you know uh everything you do and uh do it your way and do it with love you know I guess
Um yeah absolutely that’s beautiful thank you thank you Brandon so our next question is from Young Dylan from Nickelodeon hey Dylan hi guys I’m big fan of all of you thank you guys so much nice to meet you guys um so my question is for uh Andre day this Super Bowl is
Being filmed in Bikini Bottom Live this year on Nickelodeon yeah crazy right so how can SpongeBob make the Super Bowl the best day ever that’s a great question your excitement is everything right thank you for the pressure uh first of all the super roll was never official before being
Televised from bikini bottom so congratulations to the Super Bowl first of all um um secondly I just think yeah free crabby patties for everybody you know definitely thank you guys so much thank you thank you all so much um I don’t have any tips to offer you on Sunday
There’s literally nothing I can tell you to do except to have a great time right I wouldn’t even try to make it up uh Reba post and Andre thank you so much for your time I’ll be tuned in singing loudly off key on Sunday that’s right so nice to meet
You thank you than you thank you so much thank you record setting chart topping a Bonafide hit maker this is one performance 30 years in the making peace up peace up peace up take that and Rewind it back okay my favorite Usher song [Applause] Is [Applause] yeah [Applause] I and now the moment we’ve all been waiting for today we get to hear hear directly from Usher about what this moment means to him please join me in welcoming Usher W hey everybody how you guys doing hello good morning good to see you come come get comfortable here
Absolutely how are you oh I’m doing great you know but as I was watching you walk up there I realized it is really strange to see you walk onto a stage to see you descending from the rafters and landing in a split normal roller skating backwards on the stage normal but
Walking it just doesn’t look right so hopefully this is the last time we have to see you walk onto the stage you know in 2011 you made a a cameo at the halftime show yeah and it was so incredible and I’m wondering what is your memory of that performance
Um man oddly enough that was a moment that only I think I remember my um hand got caught in the The Wire that was holding me like 30 ft in the air and I almost missed my first Mark I was like oh my God don’t let this malfunction
Caused me to miss something but um that was one and the second was uh afterwards and how amazing it felt to be in front of that many people and feel the energy um so much so that it made me you know really passionate about eventually getting this moment that I’m
Getting ready to have but it was really fueled by being able to be just in that moment with uh with the black IPS you know I wonder that and I would say watching that performance it stuck with me that I’ve watched it a few times I would have never realized that you
Almost got stuck there because you’re such an incredible showman what I remember was you leaping over willam’s head clearing it by a couple feet and landing in a perfect and I thought this man has to headline the halftime show one day so at that moment you were already visualizing
Yourself headlining the show yeah you know sometimes um affirmations and words of confirmation isn’t enough you have to like put in the work uh but great that um Jay-Z and uh the Super Bowl would have me uh be able to be there to entertain the World Las Vegas has been
Amazing for me having 100 sold out shows at a residency and to have the next one be the crescendo which is a Super Bowl um with apple this has really really really giving my time here in Las Vegas an incredible button at the end you know
Yeah this is the kind of thing you couldn’t plan this out right it feels like some of these things just have to fall into place and this performance truly has been 30 years in the making you know you dropped your first album in 1994 you followed up with multiple
Classic albums and hits like you mentioned coming off this huge res residency only to perform on music’s biggest stage how does it feel 30 years in to still be hitting brand new heights in your career feels amazing um you know this being cuz I’m putting my album out
Actually on the ninth so um you know this this is just really a testament of dedication um I I I don’t have this moment by myself all of my fans that I bring with me each and every person that had anything to do with the music the creativity
Everybody is a part of this celebratory moment um but what I feel is that this is only the beginning because I launched that album as an independent artist and I will be up until this date the only independent artist who’s ever performed the Super Bowl halftime show so um this
Is a beginning this is a new beginning for me yeah and it’s just a testament to your hard work right the longevity you’ve had and the Legacy you’ve created I think we live in a time when so many artists feel pressure to have a viral moment you know now everything has to be
Now but we’ve seen you build this over time and so that’s incredible and so is this also a moment for you to just sit back and reflect on all the things you’ve had to maneuver to get to this point yeah but I got to do it in 13 minutes
And that that makes it a bit difficult but you seem like a man who loves a challenge oh yeah and it definitely has been a challenge to squeeze 30 years into 13 minutes yeah but but how did you approach that then picking the right songs the choreography the perfect set
For 13 minutes um you know there’s been these fantasy lists that have been going out and people trying to figure out what song I’m going to perform first middle last who’s going to come on the stage with me what I did is I 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 um and that was really the the idea uh what songs do I feel people know me for what songs have been a celebration um of all of the Journey of what life and love and emotion has been
Offered in my music you know that was the the idea um I thought about a few moments that were special in dance I thought about some things that I had created here in Las Vegas I.E skating and doing things that I had not you know
Done on stage up until this point um to be able to share that with the world um for everybody that you know heard 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 another 180,000 people 80 million people for the world to see roller skating in front of 60,000 people so casual I don’t no pressure no pressure but that’s the thing you have done this so much that it is in your
Blood right you’ve put in those 10,000 hours so I imagine that once you step out there it feels natural and to your point of this being it’s a celebration for OG fans like me I’ve been listening to you my entire life it feels like but there’s a whole audience who’s going to
Be seeing you for the very first time which is so exciting how I guess how did you factor that into the performance also just that brand new audience seeing Usher for the first time um I wanted to put on a show that I felt would represent my idea of
Creativity what I’ve been able to do is bring a great deal of Atlanta and the Melting Pot that it is uh musically culturally uh to Las Vegas um you know that is the source that has been fueling me for these years creatively so why not make certain that the rest of the world
Rather they’re seeing me for the first time or either they’re celebrating because we’ve been you know listening to me you’ve been listening to my music from for these years um you know to make certain that at least what I’m putting together is something that would be entertaining
Um as I said before if you’ve not seen me or you’ve been with me yeah yeah you know you are just a true showman in every sense of the word and you’re a rare breed of artists you have very few artists who have the level of skill and
Talent that you do to sing and dance so well at the same time and I wonder what is it that do motivate you to put so much time and effort into becoming such an excellent performer the fact that I said I believed it and to see that out
Is something that the 9-year-old who believed and me uh deserves because I didn’t have any of this all I had was my vision all I had was the idea that someday I would have fans all I had was the idea that someday I’d find a record
All I had was the idea and the vision that eventually an audience would show up you know those kids who like take a mic in hand and they’re singing and they’re like believing in themselves and they look in the mirror and they’re singing to an audience that’s not there
I’m that kid at 9 years old um that had this dream that this moment and many of the moments that I’ve had in my career would would come true right yeah that that dream my earliest memory of you is on Star Search I don’t know if anyone
Remembers that show I think that was in the early ’90s yeah you know and so yeah even back then you’ve had it so you know in any moments I think for an ambitious person a person who wants to be great who wants to master their craft they’re
Are going to be highs and lows how have you navigated some of those moments I think for artists who are looking at you now thinking wow one day I hope I can be as great as Usher what have advice would you give to them I would hope that um
That what I have found resonates on many levels for artists or people period that what you put in you get out um and and that’s it you know you know I I’ve been motivated Honestly by artists uh like Michael Jackson and the fact that you know he was a hard worker um motivated
By athletes like Michael Jordan and the dedication that he you know he put into his craft and his his skill he received not only Accolade but also to recognition that would make him a legend and you know that’s what I’ve have always hoped for myself that you know
Maybe someday I’d be recognized in the same light and in the same title uh as those people I just mentioned well Usher I’m going to say that this is the day this is the day you’ve put in 30 years of work and for anyone one who hasn’t
Had a chance to see or experience it I’m excited I’m truly excited a little bit jealous of anyone who’s going to be seeing it for the very first time on Sunday you know um at this point in your career you have transcended any one genre Superstar status right because of
The work but you were born of R&B culture and it’s a culture that is so influential R&B is everywhere but it still doesn’t get the due credit so is it important to you to be repping R&B on the Super Bowl halftime stage it’s nice uh to be in any category
Uh but not to be categorized is what I had always hoped um that R&B as a trade and as a style as a genre as an emotion as a spirit um be it it being found through gospel music jazz rhythm and blues blues and then R&B that
Then created all these other genres of music we don’t understand how relevant R&B has been to the development of the industry that we have and the artists and the creators that have been a part of that that they didn’t get recognized either so I’m happy that R&B gets the
Stage on Sunday I’m happy that R&B and rhythm and blues uh gets to and and the the matter of what it is as song and per dance performers uh it gets uh that recognition that it deserves um I’m honored but don’t want to be categorized
As just an R&B artist I’m an artist who loves music I’m an artist who’s lived through my emotional experiences and was able to share it through this this um this genre um but I wanted to to speak to the entire world that if you believe
In something and you put the work in you can have whatever you want you know you can go and try and create anything that you want rather that then becomes popular music or that that becomes like oh this is a you know and I’m a piano
And a and a afro beats um merge that becomes this new version of R&B who knows whatever it is I’ve tried so many things my entire career and I’ve just managed to be able to gather people who celebrate my music and celebrate my experiences and maybe they tied to
Theirs maybe they got married to a song maybe they fell in love to a song maybe they made love to a song you know maybe they you know celebrated and laughed and had an incredible time maybe they cried maybe they hurt maybe they got a chance
To be confident in a way uh that they didn’t have before they listened to that song that’s what R&B has been to me and I hope that the rest of the world can celebrate it in the way that I’ve celebrated it that’s so beautiful we’ll definitely be celebrating with you you
Know it’s been incredible watching you push yourself over these 30 years and push boundaries you know and does it ever feel scary sometimes it’s not always easy to try something new with the whole world watching but that’s never stopped you you know how do you push yourself to do that
Um you know what I’m still trying to figure it out the reality is I just I have this idea that if you manage to collaborate with people who are just as passionate as you you’re going to create something amazing um you know I push myself because that’s just a choice I
Want to be great I want to set standards I want to be a standard um that is seen through my passion my passion for music my passion for creativity and then rather that becomes something that’s artistic by way of you know the videos that we create or the narratives that
Are inside of the music that then become something else TV serieses you know you look at you know people like 50 Cent right he creates power right you heard the music first and then you then see the V the visuals um I’m hoping that I can do more things like that with with
The brands you know that I’ve created through these songs you know um um but yes it’s just a m it’s a matter of managing to um you know monetize at the same time emotionally give people an escape you know when you look at a movie
You you you relate to it you hear a song you relate to it it becomes a um an assistant in your emotional whatever it is whether you’re crying or you’re laughing you know so for me it’s more than just music it’s it’s it’s all of those things um most important it’s a
Connection right that’s what I’ve always wanted to have a connection to this audience of people that I might not necessarily see every day but when they hear this song We’re connected we’re connected and it takes us back to such special moments I was thinking recently about you know I’m hoping you might do
My Buu when you got on stage and you know ba we finally retired that thankfully I would love it if buo made a comeback like you’ve created these these cultural moments that you’re right it’s it’s connections and it takes us back to those special moments and it’s just amazing how much you’ve already
Accomplished but I know for you know an an ambitious person a creative person there is almost always more so what are some of the things you are visualizing next you also have the tour coming up like what are you visualizing in the next couple of years um I visualized in this next few
Years that there will be more um opportunity to build here in Las Vegas um I love this city um you know when I received the key I started trying to open doors and um you know trying to figure out ways to do more things that activate this immersive experience that
I feel like I had for an underserved audience uh that want to have a certain experience that enjoyed the you know the curation of the world that I created when I was here in Las Vegas where does that lead me I don’t know maybe it’s businesses maybe it’s more shows maybe
It’s shows that I curate maybe it’s festivals like the lovers and friends Festival maybe it’s you know um hotels maybe it’s you know a different idea and standard for artists who came from this world and then created business here in this town you know so much to look
Forward to yeah anything is possible I mean you got Tim Cook to oh it’s make his acting debut you know while trying to find you so I think anything really is possible and it’s possible if you believe it yeah yeah believing and putting in the work I don’t think you
Could say that enough times just people don’t get to see the work that you put in behind the scenes but your friends know you know uh Luda and Lil John definitely know like you’ve collaborated with these people and there so many people who have been so important on
Your journey until this point so when it came to thinking about putting together the Super Bowl show was it easy if you’re going to have guest performers I don’t know anything you know were there people you thought of immediately to join you on that stage if you’re having performers of
Course was it hard there’s a lot of them you’ve had a lot of good friends that you’ve worked and collaborated with I think I made it easy for myself when I decided to have like features on songs that became hit records so that um that gave me the greatest point of
Reference um but um here’s what’s beautiful is that Apple has been following me throughout this entire process so we’re uh in the process of you know figuring out how we’re going to share it with you break the Internet by that conversation but there’s also to a documentary crew that been collecting
All of the moments that have happened um you know so there’s cameras around us at all times looking at you know the process that we went through you know you get a chance to see from the first moment that I got the call all the way
Up until the moment that I walk off the stage yeah um at least that’s the idea um but I um I am definitely you know went through a lot of ideas of who I would have uh share this moment with me and um I do feel like the people whom
Are going to share it deserve just as much recognition for what they do in their careers U rather we have collaborated together or rather they’ve had moments of their own there’s also two very special things that um I’ve woven into this entire performance things that speak to culture things that
Speak to Quality things that speak to my creativity um you know as you know I’m skating so the idea of being able to skate on uh skates that I created is something that I’m I’m really looking forward to doing um but this you know this has just been an amazing time in my
Life and I’m so happy that you know God and the universe is kind of led me to this moment what it means to other people and how they believe in themselves you know that’s up to them but me I’m really a product of my belief I’m a product of uh believing that I
Could come to this city and I could do something amazing and it’s happened and I ain’t done here I’m going to continue to keep going uh past present future is my tour and um I plan on now sharing a bit of this energy that I created here with the rest of the
World looking forward to it and you know once you get off that halftime show stage we have a new album to enjoy album Number Nine y coming home you know how does it also feel then yeah to step off and be able to share this this new body of work and also there’s
Some really nice the city of Atlanta is going to be going crazy when you’re performing um there’s also some Beautiful Moments a lot of artists from Atlanta even featured on the project so what is that like for you I mean it wasn’t easy to do but I turned Vegas to
Atlanta you know what I’m saying I took that V and turned it upside down you know what I’m saying or either took the A and turned it to a v but um you know that that was you know the influence inuence that Atlanta has had on me so
Much so that I collected everything that um I experienced I benefited from in Atlanta and brought that culture uh to to Las Vegas and now to the rest of the world on the Super Bowl uh halftime show it’s going to be incredible yeah but the album is which we’re talking about right
You know it’s it’s just really the the last um really 5 years of my life there was a huge stop in the middle of that because of the pandemic and and what that offered uh and then coming back out of it I needed a little bit of motivation
Which is why I decided to put my shows on sale in Las Vegas there was no promise it was a real bold move um and you know I I decided to move forward and since then since that moment of belief this has happened and now I’m ready to
Share some of what I was working on before and what I worked on after I decided to start my shows here in Las Vegas my ninth album coming home um working and building with LA Reid who was my partner uh in mega our our label I’m our first I’m our first artist and
Um again as I said I’m the first independent artist to ever play the Super Bowl so inspirational I feel like I need to go build something big I’m inspired by this conversation um thank you for answering my questions we actually have a few questions for you from our youth
Reporters as well okay cool all right so let’s jump into those we’re going to see our friend Cayenne again hey Cayenne hello what’s that me I am a my name’s k mo I’m a little from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada my question is For You
Usher I have a great mentor in my life and I’m very grateful for him my question is as a black positive role model how can you help me navigate my journey to success H well first and foremost um finding a a person to motivate you and support you um is incredible uh H
Everybody has a mentor everybody has someone who will support them um the one thing I’ve been talking about is your personal belief in yourself and creating a plan without necessarily establishing exactly what your destination is your plan should be based on your passion if you are passionate about what you want
To do then it’s not just about Accolade or winning an award or a reward or anything it’s about the journey through that passion that’s the one thing I would say belief in yourself uh and then just having an understanding of the history and the people who have done
What you want to do paying attention to the steps that they made so that you can learn and benefit from where they’ve gone um and now where they’ve arrived to be a motivator for you wow thank you yeah you wait for your album tomorrow so many gems there thank
You cenne and so our next question is from Brandon hey Brandon hello hello sure uh I have one question for you what is your favorite thing about performing performing yes performing the moment of connection between me and the audience um you know some some in some ways it becomes like you know
Just kind of like the proc the process I never lose that that connection to the audience to be able to hear them and feel them um it’s the thing that is most important uh making the song is is great but that reaction that connection that serenade that ability to connect and
Hear them and feel their energy is the most important part uh of the experience um of making music and in offering music thank you Brandon hearing you say that is amazing again understanding that everything is so intentional because that’s one of the special things about your shows it always feels like you are
Singing directly to me it feels one-on-one even in front of such a big audience so it’s nice knowing where that comes from so we do have one more question for you this one is from Young Dylan from n glodan hi again Dylan hi hi Usher nice to meet you I just want to
First start off with I’m such a big fan you you inspire me it’s a blessing being in your presence my family loves you and you’re one of my favorite R&B artists so my first question is um yeah young Dylan from Nickelodeon Nickelodeon wants to know can you please give us an usher
Confession can I give you a Usher confession I love this one um specifically for Nickelodeon right we’re going to keep it age appropriate um it was always a dream of mine um to be slimed as a kid yeah no I watched I watched it just
Like all of us in here and to get that green goop over my head was something that I really I just wanted to be able to say I did and by the time I finally made it to the Nickelodeon awards they just didn’t even do it anymore I was
Like oh that sucks I know man but what can do about that can you hey I got you hey it’s slime in the back I got you Lo ke slime on I got you I can get you some thank you so much thank you so much
For your answer absolutely all right so we know that’s one more thing on your bucket list getting officially slimed and young Dylan is going to make that happened we really really appreciate it look you know it’s been a beautiful journey to this point 30 years in the
Making now all you have to do just go out there and just have an incredible time on Sunday right yes congratulations really really enjoy the celebrations the OG fans are definitely going to be locked in absolutely and I look forward to it thank you to usher and to all of
Our guests who joined us today uh of course we can’t wait to see Usher take the stage at the Apple music Super Bowl halftime show and shortly after the performance you’ll be able to stream the full halftime show on Apple music while you wait you can also enjoy his catalog
And spatial audio listen watch and sing all things Usher only on Apple music and before we go us we do have one more quick teaser for them so here’s the teaser of Usher’s epic road to the Super Bowl featuring 14 of his biggest hits and a few friends coming together to get
Him to the halftime show I’m a FaceTime right now we in here where you going Christopher something happened last night Tim Luda lost Usher Tim I’m sorry bro what Tim Usher fans are left to wonder after rumors that his friends seen here lost the sing oh no there are some very powerful people
That wish he would disappear you guys are screwed we can cover more ground if we split up he’s got to be here somewhere we got a halftime show to save has anybody seen user J bows yeah where’d you get that chain this chain User I don’t know if that’s you will find him or you will find him
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