Usher's 30 years in music is being marked as he headlines the half-time show of the biggest annual US sporting occasion, the Super Bowl.
The eight-time Grammy-winning R&B star has a busy schedule, having recently finished a residency in Las Vegas whilst preparing for the release of his new album Coming Home.
The Yeah! singer, who recently announced a tour of North America, said it was the "honour of a lifetime" to be chosen to perform at the major sporting event, which will take place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sunday.
The 45-year-old, whose self-titled debut album was released in 1994, received wide acclaim in 2004 with his record Confessions, which went to number one on both sides of the Atlantic and secured the Best Contemporary R&B Album Grammy.
Usher, who has served as a coach on the US version of The Voice, also established the record label Raymond Braun Media Group (RBMG) as a collaboration with talent agent Scooter Braun. It was initially created to manage the burgeoning career of pop artist Justin Bieber.
Dipping his toes into the world of acting, the Texan-born music star has appeared in films including Hustlers and Light It Up and was also in the teen show Moesha and the horror movie The Faculty.
His 2023 residency in Las Vegas, Usher: My Way – which drew sold-out shows and rave reviews – ended in December and followed on from his eight-night residency at La Seine Musicale in Paris, which ended in October.
Usher has revealed he will share the Super Bowl stage with special guests he has collaborated with in the past.
"So we're in the process of figuring out how we're going to share it with you, break the internet by that conversation, but there's also a documentary crew that's been collecting all of the moments that have happened.
"So there's cameras around us at all times, looking at the process that we went through.
"You get a chance to see from the first moment that I got the call, all the way up into the moment that I walk off the stage. At least that's the idea.
"I definitely went through a lot of ideas of who I would have share this moment with me, and I do feel like the people who are going to share it deserve just as much recognition for what they do in their careers.
"Rather we have collaborated together, or rather they have had moments of their own.
"There's also two very special things that I've woven into this entire performance. Things that speak to culture. Things that speak to quality. Things that speak to my creativity."
He added: "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 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.
"What songs do I feel people know me for? What songs have been a celebration of all of the journey of what life and love and emotion has been offered in my music? That was the idea.
"I thought about a few moments that was [sic] special in dance.
"I thought about some things that I had created here in Las Vegas – skating and doing things that I had not done on stage up until this point, to be able to share that with the world.
"For everybody that heard about my show in Las Vegas, you will now get a chance to see some of what I did here but you're going to get the best of it."
Usher confirmed during an interview with Billboard on Wednesday that there would definitely be "special guests" during the 12 to 15-minute performance at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Apple Music uploaded a teaser to its social media that follows musicians Ludacris and Lil Jon and actress Taraji P Henson as they try to find a missing Usher before his half-time performance.
Usher has had numerous tracks in the Irish singles chart, according to the Official Charts Company, with songs including Burn and OMG featuring Will.i.am.
For his work in music, the entertainer has been honoured at the Black Music and Entertainment Walk of Fame, the Sound Exchange Hall of Fame and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Usher has played in Ireland many times with concerts in 2004, 2011 and 2015. His new album, Coming Home, is out today.
Source: Press Association
