Usher Gets Key To Las Vegas, City Declares 10/17 Usher Raymond Day: Watch
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Not only is Usher the King of R&B, but he is also now the King of Las Vegas.
On Tuesday (Oct. 17), the 45-year-old crooner was honored by the Las Vegas City Councilman Cedric Crear and Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman with the key to Sin City at Las Vegas City Hall, just days after his birthday. They also declared Oct. 17 Usher Raymond Day for his work in the community, his incomparable three-year residency, and upcoming Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show performance at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.
“Councilman, thank you so much for this momentous moment. I know the efforts that go into doing something like this and I don’t take it for granted,” the “Good Good” singer began. “I wanna thank you for your belief in the future and your ability to be able to recognize those things that actually do grow your city. I am someone who is now just contributing by way of entertainment, but also to the heartbeat of the city.”
Ursher spoke on his journey coming from Chattanooga, Tenn., to Atlanta and “finding passion there,” which led to “something that has become part of my DNA and that is belief.” He expressed how his residency, which first launched in July 2021, was one of the first that reopened the world of live entertainment following the pandemic.
“This was the groundswell for the belief that we would get back to the norm that we know we needed,” continued the father of four. He thanked Mayor Goodman for welcoming his Lovers & Friends Festival with open arms and teased that “there’s so many other things” he plans to host in Vegas to help “those in underserved communities” and “to do things and create a groundswell that represents the incredible city that it is.”
He also shared that Vegas, for him, represents “the belief that the impossible could happen.” Adding, “I’m a man for the people. I’m a man for entertainment and entertainment has been my tool, but that belief that was placed the moment that I came here, the roots that now have grown to a Super Bowl moment, is something to be recognized […] I’m so happy that it happened here. I could’ve never calculated that, but I know that true belief in something always manifests into something greater.”
During the ceremony, Councilman Crear spoke highly about the other residencies happening right now, but called Usher’s show “the hottest ticket in [town].”
“Usher has been an absolutely incredible brand ambassador for Las Vegas with his extremely popular residency as you know called My Way,” Councilman Crear continued. “And we all know he is going to be headlining something for the first time — I don’t know if you really comprehend this, but for the first time in the history of the NFL, the Super Bowl is going to be here in Las Vegas… How fitting is it that the entertainment for the Halftime Show is gonna be — and we already claimed you, my man — is our own Usher Raymond. And we know you’re gonna do us proud.”
Mayor Goodman chimed in, moments later, calling Usher “a miracle.”
She explained, “Because he’s selfless. This is a man that cares about everybody and he knows the future of our country and around this world, which is a mess. That if you help others and you help our children have another chance, a better chance, what better marriage than the city of Las Vegas and the genius, benevolent, compassionate, talented Usher Raymond?”
Mayor Goodman, then, handed over the “bejeweled key” to the city of Las Vegas. Longtime friend and collaborator, Johntá Austin, and Usher’s partner, Jennifer Goicoechea, were among those in attendance at the ceremony.
Watch it in full below.
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