Usher Reacts to Rumor That He Was Once Beyoncé's Nanny
Before Usher became the kind of musical superstar who is slated to take the Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show stage by storm on Feb. 11, he was an aspirational R&B star watching over another soon-to-be superstar when they were younger.
The "Good Good" singer was a guest on Shannon Sharpe's Club Shay Shay YouTube show and podcast, where he addressed the rumor that he used to be Beyoncé's nanny. As Usher explains, nanny would be an exaggeration of his role when they were younger; he was more like a "chaperone."
"Daryl Simmons had a group by the name of The Dolls, and they came to Atlanta for the first time. This is before Destiny's Child became Destiny's Child," he tells Sharpe. "I think I looked over them while they [were] doing something in the house; I had to watch over 'cause I was like the, you know, the authority 'cause I guess I was the teenager at the time."
But no, Usher asserts that he wasn't a nanny or a "manny." "[I was] making certain that they didn't, you know, get in no trouble in the house at the time."
This isn't the first time Usher has recalled his longtime connection to the former girl group member. During an appearance on the UK radio show Capital Breakfast With Roman Kemp last year, he recalled his first encounter with Beyoncé when she was a child.
"Fun fact, I knew Beyoncé when she was 12 years old, 11 years old," he said at the time. "She used to be in a group by the name of The Dolls. I don't know if I could consider myself their babysitter, but I had a time where I had to watch The Dolls."
Speaking with Sharpe, he says that he "knew there was something very special about all of them," noting that the members of Destiny's Child -- Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson -- have all gone on to have successful careers. "They all thrive, even still to this day. When you see them and you see them together, they all thrive. They all are an incredible unit," Usher adds with reverence for the iconic girl group.
Of course, the father of four couldn't help but gush a bit about Beyoncé, who he has maintained a friendship with and collaborated with over the years.
"Beyonce had a talent and also to a brilliance and a brightness that was much different. It was actually Frank Gaton who helped me see it, he worked with me at the time as my choreographer, and then he started working with them. And he always told me, 'Man, she's really special, you need to keep your eye on her,'" Usher recalled. "[It's] really great for my sister, to see that she's done so amazing and continue to thrive and just get bigger and better.
Usher has always kept close to the Renaissance artist's husband, JAY-Z, whom the Atlanta-based singer shares was the one to call him about headlining the Super Bowl halftime show.
The "My Way" singer was confirmed as the 2024 Super Bowl halftime show headliner back in September 2023, and will perform inside Allegiant Stadium in Nevada on Feb. 11.
He admits he assumed JAY-Z was calling about their ongoing Spades competition until The Blueprint rapper revealed he was calling to give him his "Michael moment."
"I was a bit in denial... but it was a beautiful moment," he shares, smiling.
Usher Says 'Yeah' to Super Bowl Halftime Show in Star-Studded First Trailer
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Usher Says 'Yeah' to Super Bowl Halftime Show in Star-Studded First Trailer
JAY-Z's Roc Nation partnered up with the NFL in 2019, signing on to produce their Super Bowl halftime shows. After helping spearhead performers like Jennifer Lopez and Shakira in 2020, The Weeknd in 2021, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar in 2022, and Rihanna in 2023, the long-term partnership came together for this year's big show with Usher as the headliner.
"I think that he's going to take his rightful place," the iconic rapper and businessman previously told ET of the choice while attending the red carpet premiere of The Book of Clarence. "He's one of the greatest performers we've seen in our time and I think he'll take his rightful place."
And when ET spoke with Usher on the heels of the news that he'll be headlining the Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show, he teased what fans can expect from the high-profile performance.
"This is a celebration of my legacy. It's a celebration of my music. It's a celebration of my passion," Usher shared. "Thirty years ago, that journey started, and now it's landed me at this point in my life at the Super Bowl. Lot of songs, lot of moments, lot of dance, lot of energy."
The hardest part of Super Bowl prep has been choosing the set list, he explained. "You've got 13 minutes in order to get through an entire legacy of music," he noted before sharing how he was feeling ahead of the performance.
"The fact that I have my friends and new people to celebrate with is ultimately what's driving me and building my anticipation and excitement," he said. "... I don't take it for granted. My mother talked about this moment many years ago actually and there was the thought that maybe it wouldn't come. It was just a matter of time and making certain that the moment was right."
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