Usher has announced his plans for an “intimate” 15-date tour especially made for the ladies, called the One Night Stand Tour. After all his talk about being a family man, it seems he hopes to prove he’s still a sex symbol too. Read all about Usher’s tour here.
So the question is, are there any guys out there who’ll be feeling left out if Ush does, in fact, bar men from the shows?
The R&B singer Usher has left his manager, Billboard reported. In a statement released by his label, LaFace/Zomba, Usher said that he had “dissolved his management arrangement with Benny Medina and has re-engaged Jonnetta Patton,” his mother, “as his manager.” Usher was managed by his mother until May 2007, when he hired Mr. Medina, who manages Mariah Carey and other artists. Usher’s latest album, “Here I Stand,” has sold 948,000 copies in the past 10 weeks in the United States and is the eighth best-selling album of the year to date. But it hasn’t sold nearly as well his “Confessions” album from 2004, which sold 3.77 million copies in its first 10 weeks.
The NFL has now confirmed that its 89th season will be ushered in by … well, none other than Usher. The R&B star will perform during a special and (more importantly) free pregame event on September 4 at 3 p.m. in New York’s Columbus Circle. Country crooner Keith Urban will also take the stage, right before the defending Super Bowl champs, the New York Giants, face the Washington Redskins in this year’s season opener.
*It’s that time of year when the best of the best come together in one place, with fans and celebrities alike, watching and waiting with baited breath, when finally, the trophy goes to the victors. That’s right, the “BET Awards” are just around the corner on June 24, airing at 8pm ET.
BET Network’s Stephen Hill chatted with EUR’s Lee Bailey about this year's awards show, once again keeping the surprises under wraps, though. One big detail is that Usher will be starting things off come show time.
“We’ve really got some strong nominations and that’s good for a really strong show,” he added. “Usher’s opening with a production number that you’ll just have to see to believe. Usher always brings incredible performances and we’re expecting that.”
Also hitting up the BET Awards stage will be performances by Mary J. Blige, Lil’ Wayne, Nelly, Janet Jackson, and Mariah Carey. Could Nick Cannon be in the house, too?
“I couldn’t tell you, but we certainly invite all couples. It’s a couple-skate,” Hill joked. “I’m not expecting for Mariah and Nick to perform together, but we’re always looking for surprises on the BET Awards, and that might be one.”
No secrets were revealed by the tight-lipped network exec, but Hill did mention that while the host has not been confirmed, the channel is not trying to make it a surprise.
“That one’s not a surprise. We’re just ironing out some details. We expect to make the announcement by the end of next week.”
It was revealed that legendary R&B Icon Al Green will receive BET’s Lifetime Achievement Award. And when asked about the process of selecting the Lifetime Award recipient, Hill explained that the choice is internal at the network.
“That was one name that everybody could agree on,” Hill said of this year’s honoree. “Everybody loves Al Green. Al Green is a pioneer of sensual soul singing and also a staple in gospel as well.”
Hill also explained that to-date, the network has not considered giving the Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously. He said that one of the reasons why they have the award is to give people their due while they are alive.
“We always talk about how people only get their recognition and respect after they're dead,” he said. “When the Isleys won the award, something Ron Isley was almost crying about was that [they] didn’t think they would get this kind of recognition while [they] were alive. The Lifetime Achievement is specifically to let somebody get that recognition and enjoy it while their alive.”
Additionally, BET’s Humanitarian Award will be presented to producer/arranger/composer Quincy Jones.
One thing you can expect at the BET Awards is the unexpected. The Network has already switched it up just a little bit. This year, the network announced the 2008 nominations out of New York City on the set of “106th & Park,” as opposed to delivering the good news from the left coast. The awards show itself will be televised live from Los Angeles, however.
This year, leading the pack in nominations is T-Pain, with five. Interestingly, as Hill explained, the majority of T-Pain’s noms are from his collaboration work rather than his own record.
“He’s not nominated for any of his stuff,” Hill said. “He’s nominated in the 'featuring' categories. Four of his nominations come in the best collaborations category. All as a special guest features as opposed to a T-Pain record: Flo Rida, featuring T-Pain; Kanye West, featuring T-Pain; Chris Brown, featuring T-Pain. He’s all over and extremely popular. He’s a phenomenal collaborator.”
T-Pain is followed by Kanye West and Keyshia Cole with three nominations, and Mary J. Blige, Flo Rida and Alicia Keys scored two each.
The 8th annual BET Awards airs June 24 at 8p ET on the network. For more details, hit up www.bet.com.
Tuesday, May 2008 -- Five-time Grammy® winner Usher gets set to light up the ballroom floor as another exciting season of "Dancing with the Stars" comes to a close, TUESDAY, MAY 20 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. Performing "Love in this Club," which shot to #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 music chart, Usher is back with his latest album, "Here I Stand," available May 27. He'll also treat audiences to a performance of his Grammy-winning hit single, "Yeah," accompanied by his dancers and pros Cheryl Burke, Karina Smirnoff, Kym Johnson, Derek Hough, Genya Mazo and Artem Chigvintsev.
Hosted by Tom Bergeron ("America's Funniest Home Videos") and Samantha Harris ("E! Entertainment"), the "Dancing with the Stars" celebrities perform choreographed dance routines which are judged by renowned Ballroom judge Len Goodman and dancer/choreographers Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba.
"Dancing with the Stars" is the U.S. version of the international BBC smash hit series, "Strictly Come Dancing." This version is produced in America by BBC Worldwide Productions. Conrad Green serves as executive producer and Rob Wade and Matilda Zoltowski are co-executive producers. Alex Rudzinski directs.
"Dancing with the Stars" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound and Spanish audio via SAP.
Source: ABC
17th May - Customers to get exclusive handset content and competition entrySony Ericsson has teamed up with R&B singer Usher for an exclusive brand marketing campaign.
The partnership with the Grammy award winning artist will span more than 20 European countries and will include headline sponsorship rights for a full European tour later in the year. Sony Ericsson's marketing activities will revolve around the W350 and W980 Walkman handsets, launching this year.
Sony Ericsson music marketing manager John Bernard said: "Working with an artist such as Usher is an ideal fit for us. Here we are at the start of an electrifying launch campaign, poised to deliver a totally 360 degree experience for all consumers and Usher fans alike - it's truly an exciting prospect.
"With clear audio technology on Sony Ericsson handsets we have moved to the next level of music on your mobile with the increased quality of the listening experience. Coupled with great design on the 2008 line up of products, the partnership is a great showcase to highlight the Sony Ericsson range."
The partnership, which links the Sony BMG music label with its sister phone manufacturer, will kick off with a performance at the IndigO2 venue in North Greenwich on May 22.
American star Usher was booed as he opened the Big Weekend in Maidstone after saying “Hello Manchester”.
