Usher Reveals His Advice for Kendrick Lamar Ahead of His 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show

Mar. 15, 2025

Usher; Kendrick Lamar.Photo:Lionel Hahn/Getty; Monica Schipper/Getty

Lionel Hahn/Getty; Monica Schipper/Getty

Usheris sharing his Super Bowl words of wisdom.

Appearing onThe Jennifer Hudson Showin an episode airingTuesday, Feb. 4, the “Good Good” singer, 46, whoheadlinedlast year’sSuper Bowlhalftime show, gave some wise words tothis year’s performer,Kendrick Lamar.

“I haven’t had the chance to catch up with him and tell him, one, how excited I am,” Usher said of the rapper, 37. “I’ve talked to everybody around … I’ve talked to all the producers, his creative team.”

He added, “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.”

“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,” Usher continued.

“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,’” the R&B icon said. “So my encouragement to him is to really be present and I hope that he uses the moment well.”

Usher went on to add, “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 continued.

No stranger to the Super Bowl stage, Usher’s 2024 halftime show sawAlicia Keys, H.E.R.,Lil Jon,Ludacris,Will.i.amand Jermaine Dupri join him as guests.

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Kendrick Lamar onstage during day three of Rolling Loud Miami 2022 at Hard Rock Stadium on July 24, 2022.Jason Koerner/Getty

Jason Koerner/Getty

The star-studded performance began with his 2004 song “Caught Up” and went on to include more of his hits such as “My Boo,” “You Got It Bad” and “Bad Girl.”

Usher also previously appeared as a Super Bowlguest performer in 2011during theBlack Eyed Peas’ headline show in Arlington, Texas.

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Lamar is set to take the stage at this year’s Super Bowl on Feb. 9, withSZAjoining himas a guest performer.

Like Usher, he has previously appeared on the Super Bowl stage, joiningDr. Dre,Snoop Dogg,Mary J. Blige,Eminem,50 CentandAnderson .Paakin 2022 for aperformanceat Super Bowl LVI.

Super Bowl LIX will air Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025 on FOX.

source: people.com