Usher and Justin Timberlake’s Bidding War Over Justin Bieber Revealed
In a recent interview, Usher opened up about a past bidding war between himself and Justin Timberlake over the talented pop star, Justin Bieber. The R&B singer reminisced about the early 2000s when both he and the *NSYNC member were vying to sign Bieber to a recording contract.
Usher, now 45 years old, shared that he was introduced to Bieber and his future manager, Scooter Braun, shortly after the release of his album “Confessions.” Recognizing Bieber’s potential, Usher presented Braun with an offer he believed he couldn’t resist. This led to a friendly rivalry between Usher and Timberlake as they competed for the opportunity to sign Bieber.
Ultimately, Usher emerged victorious and signed the then-unknown Bieber to his joint record label with Scooter Braun, Raymond Braun Media Group, in 2008. Reflecting on his decision, Usher expressed his commitment to giving Bieber his all, stating, “I’m going to give you my passion, and I’m going to give you every bit of what I have to offer.”
Despite their competition, Usher emphasized that there is no animosity between himself and Timberlake. In fact, he revealed that he has always wanted to collaborate with Timberlake on a record. Usher admires Timberlake’s talent and believes that his legacy should be respected without comparison to others.
Timberlake, who recently appeared as a guest on “Saturday Night Live,” also expressed his eagerness to sign Bieber. However, it was Usher who ultimately had the privilege of mentoring the young pop star.
Recently, fans were hopeful that Bieber would join Usher on stage for his Super Bowl 2024 halftime show. However, it was reported that Bieber declined the invitation because he “wasn’t feeling it.” Usher confirmed this during an interview on “The Breakfast Club” radio show, stating that he and Bieber had a brief conversation and decided to collaborate in the future when the timing felt right for both of them.
Although Bieber didn’t perform at the Super Bowl halftime show, he and his wife, Hailey, watched Usher’s electrifying performance from a suite in Las Vegas. The couple was seen nodding along to the music, showing their support for Bieber’s former mentor.
In addition to Usher’s performance, other celebrities in attendance at the Super Bowl included Taylor Swift, Kim Kardashian, Ice Spice, Blake Lively, Paul Rudd, Lana Del Rey, Kanye West, Martha Stewart, and Paul McCartney.
Bieber has been keeping a low profile since canceling the remaining dates of his “Justice” tour in 2022. This decision came after he was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which temporarily paralyzed part of his face. In the past, Bieber has also faced mental health struggles that led to the cancellation of several dates on his “Purpose” tour in 2017.
As Usher continues to make waves in the music industry and Bieber focuses on his health and well-being, fans can only hope that these two talented artists will eventually collaborate and create something extraordinary together.