Usher headlined the 2011 Essence Music Festival at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans last Friday, July 1, with an action-packed performance. The crowd went wild during his lavish performance entrance when he entered from a levitating platform from the middle of the Superdome, which took him right to the stage.
Daddy certainly came home and gave his fans quite a futuristic performance, complete with sexy female background dancers, funky visual surprises and a touching tribute to musical sensation Michael Jackson.
In the press room, when asked how he felt about headlining the concert this year, Usher responded excitedly by saying, “I’m just happy to be a part of the festival, period. Having a career of 16 years … a lot of people grew up with me here. This is like a coming home for me.” He went on to say, “New Orleans has been near to me because of my foundation. I’m really happy to come back and see New Orleans look the way that it does.”
Usher also said that he prepared a little differently this year being a closing performer. “For a predominently female audience, I prepared differently by doing like a thousand crunches a day to make sure I was prepared.”
The pop and R&B singer danced effortlessly as he glided across stage with his signature moonwalk and gyrating moves that would be sure to make MJ proud. He performed classics and hits such as “Yeah,” “There Goes My Baby,” “Confessions,” “Love in This Club” and “Lil Freak,” where the sexy interaction with his female dancers were risque enough to make you blush. Check out the photo gallery below for more photos of Usher’s performance. –mckenzie harris
