LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� As prepares to launch a stadium tour with Chris Brown, he says the criticism and legal troubles surrounding the singer never factored into his decision to embark on the tour.
鈥淎bsolutely not,鈥� Usher told The Associated Press. 鈥淗e鈥檚 my brother, and he鈥檚 amazing as a performer. That鈥檚 who I see. He works hard for his fans, and his fans support him.鈥�
Brown has remained one of R&B鈥檚 biggest stars despite years of legal troubles and controversy. Last year, he in London to charges stemming from an alleged 2023 assault at a nightclub after previously being released on bail to continue touring. He also pleaded guilty in 2009 to felony assault for attacking then-girlfriend Rihanna.
For Usher, their North American tour 鈥� which kicks off Friday in Denver 鈥� represents something much bigger than two of R&B’s brightest stars sharing a stage.
The 33-date tour follows blockbuster solo runs for both artists. Fresh off headlining the in 2024, Usher鈥檚 鈥淧ast, Present, Future鈥� tour sold more than 1.1 million tickets across North America, while Brown鈥檚 鈥淏reezy Bowl XX鈥� grossed nearly $300 million.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not about me and my brother coming together,鈥� Usher said. 鈥淲e come together in support of our fans of R&B.鈥�
Throughout the interview, Usher repeatedly returned to one message: R&B has helped shape modern music while rarely receiving equal recognition.
鈥淚t deserves to be in a stadium,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t is not just for theaters. It is not just for arenas. We do this 鈥� too. We are major too. R&B is major too.鈥�
Usher said the tour also honors the artists who laid the foundation for the genre, citing Buddy Bolden, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, Prince, Luther Vandross, along with influential figures including Earth, Wind & Fire and Babyface.
鈥淲e鈥檙e carrying it over there for them,鈥� he said.
Rather than viewing the tour as a competition between two of the genre鈥檚 biggest performers, Usher said rehearsals have reflected the admiration they have for one another.
鈥淲hen we run through the show, I look over and I see Chris standing up doing my portion and dancing,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen it would be my time, I鈥檇 be standing up rooting him on. I love his music. I am encouraged by his music in the same way I feel like he鈥檚 been encouraged and inspired by mine.鈥�
Usher said the partnership fulfills a vision that dates to Brown鈥檚 earliest days in the music business.
鈥淲hen he first started his career, having been there as a mentor, a person to support what he did, some portion of my 25-year-old self was kind of like, 鈥楳an, I鈥檓 still building. Let鈥檚 someday get to the point where there鈥檚 an opportunity for us to share the stage together,鈥欌�� he said.
Now, Usher believes the collaboration could inspire more artists to rethink touring together.
鈥淭here is power in numbers,鈥� he said. 鈥淎fter this becomes the success that I know it鈥檚 going to be, you will see more collaborations. You will see artists beginning to understand, 鈥榃ait a minute. We actually serve more of our fans when we bring them together, as opposed to trying to do it all by ourselves.鈥欌��
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