Singer feeling peachy

Soulful singer Usher is going hard for 2024 with the launch of a new album and setting the Super Bowl Halftime Show ablaze with his musical prowess.

The Atlanta Grammy-winning rhythm and blues icon is ushering in a new era with his Coming Home album that will be unveiled to music lovers on February 11 next year, which happens to be the same as his Super Bowl Halftime Show presented by Apple Music.

It’s been eight years since the My Way superstar has released an album. His last was in 2016 called Hard II Love and that had peaked at number five on the Billboard 200.

He also teamed up with Zaytoven for the eight-track project, A, in 2018.

His 2023 track Good Good, featuring Summer Walker and 21 Savage, is already putting fans in a trance and reached No 12 on Billboard‘s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart.

“I’m coming home, I’m back with my team,” Usher had told Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, sharing that he is also working with Antonio ‘LA’ Reid on this.

“Even when you see the artwork, you will understand it. When you see the peach. You get it. You understand where I’m from and what we’re doing.”

The album’s artwork features Usher, shirtless and holding a peach behind the back of his neck. The word ‘peach’ translates to ‘Georgia’ and ‘Atlanta’ which is where the singer grew up.

 “More than anything, it’s a celebration of music,” he added. “Coming home in many other ways as you get more acclimated. When I put out more records and more visuals, you actually begin to really understand it. But I think that it is something to be celebrated.”

Usher is also elated to be taking the stage at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium to perform the 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show.

“It’s an honour of a lifetime to finally check a Super Bowl performance off my bucket list. I can’t wait to bring the world a show unlike anything else they’ve seen from me before,” the singer said in a statement.

“Thank you to the fans and everyone who made this opportunity happen. I’ll see you real soon.”

This is the NFL and Roc Nation’s fifth year partnering up to produce the Halftime Show which had resulted in spectacular halftime performances in the past including shows by Shakira and Jennifer Lopez (2020), The Weeknd (2021), a hip-hop showcase anchored by Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J Blige and Kendrick Lamar (2022), and Rihanna (2023).