During an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show, airing Tuesday, February 4, Usher, who headlined the 2024 Super Bowl halftime show, shared his insights with the rapper, who will take the stage this year.
“I haven’t had the chance to catch up with him and tell him, one, how excited I am. I’ve talked to everybody around him… I’ve talked to all the producers, his creative team.”
He continued with some thoughtful words of wisdom:
“The one thing I would say is savor the moment ‘cause you get obsessed in trying to build the best performance but you don’t realize that it’s really about enjoying it.”
Usher explained further:
“It might not be perfect, everything may not go exactly the way it’s supposed to, but if you are in your mind and stuck trying to make something perfect, you’re not going to look up and smell the flowers.”
The R&B icon added,
“And realize, ‘Wait a minute, I’m here and I get a chance to have this moment and I’m not going to get it again, I’m not going to get this moment back.’ So my encouragement to him is to really be present and I hope that he uses the moment well.”
Usher also took a moment to praise Lamar’s impact, saying:
“There’s a lot that could be said, there’s a lot to be said for where hip-hop has come from, there’s a lot to be said for that young man and how he’s completely been an incredible benchmark for what it is to be an artist.”
“I’m just hoping he really maximizes that moment,” he added.
Usher is no stranger to the Super Bowl stage. His 2024 halftime performance featured an all-star lineup including Alicia Keys, H.E.R., Lil Jon, Ludacris, Will.i.am, and Jermaine Dupri. The show kicked off with his 2004 hit “Caught Up,” and went on to include other fan favorites like “My Boo,” “You Got It Bad,” and “Bad Girl.”
The Grammy-winning artist also performed as a guest during the 2011 Super Bowl halftime show with the Black Eyed Peas in Arlington, Texas.
Kendrick Lamar, who will perform at this year’s Super Bowl on February 9, will be joined by guest performer SZA. Lamar has appeared on the Super Bowl stage before, taking part in the 2022 performance with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, 50 Cent, and Anderson .Paak during Super Bowl LVI.
Super Bowl LIX will air on Sunday, February 9, 2025.