Michael Jackson: Last News

Having already performed on the Super Bowl stage as a special guest of the Black Eyed Peas in 2011, Usher is no stranger to the halftime show. But it is another former headliner whom the 45-year-old singer has taken particular inspiration from going into Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sunday night.That would be his longtime hero, Michael Jackson, who forever changed the halftime show — turning it into the biggest gig in music — when he put the “superstar” in the Super Bowl.“He absolutely revolutionized the experience like no other,” Usher told The Post.“He changed how people perceived the halftime show [because before Jackson] it was just kind of hiring, you know, local performers or whatever it might be … I really did respect that.”And Usher plans to honor Jackson’s historic moment when he follows in his legendary footsteps midway through Sunday’s showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers.“It became a great inspiration behind some of the things that I chose to do with this show,” he said.Of course, Usher — who made his self-titled debut 30 years ago as a 15-year-old — has three decades of his own experience to draw from as well.But the man behind such chart-topping hits as “Nice & Slow,” “U Remind Me,” “Yeah!” and “Love in This Club” says that it won’t be all about him when he headlines the biggest stage of all.“This has been a moment that is a celebration — not just for myself but for 30 years of people who have supported me, supported my journey, supported my choice of conversation,” said Usher.

Usher on Wednesday, I asked him if R&B had fallen off since he was one of the biggest stars of the genre in the late ’90s and ’00s. “I don’t think that R&B is not what it used to be,” he responded.

Usher opened up about the important lessons that he picked up from conversations with Michael Jackson.

Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music In what is apparently the conclusion of a deal that Variety tipped a year ago, Sony Music Group has completed a transaction to acquire half of Michael Jackson’s publishing and recorded masters in a transaction that values the total catalog at around $1.2 billion, and possibly more, sources confirm to Variety. Billboard reports that Sony will pay at least $600 million for the stake. If accurate, the deal is the biggest for a single music artist’s assets to date.

Usher has promised to roller-skate during Super Bowl Halftime performance this weekend.The R&B singer is due to take to the stage at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sunday (February 11) as part of the Super Bowl LVIII, where the Kansas City Chiefs will go up against the San Francisco 49ers.Last month, Usher teased that he’d be bringing on “some important guests”. It was also noted that the performance would feature some skating, “killer choreography” and a “major costume change”.Speaking to Apple Music (via BBC), the ‘Yeah!’ artist elaborated on his plans, saying he’d recreate a skating sequence from his recent Vegas residency.

Accomplished filmmaker Bao Nguyen takes us on a trip back to 1985 and the historic recording of one of the biggest charity records of all time, ‘We Are The World’, which united dozens of A-list artists to raise money for the African famine.Produced by Lionel Richie, one of the iconic artists and co-writer of the original song, Nguyen’s film uses archive material and contemporary talking heads (some interviewed in the original studio in which the record was made), including Richie himself.Headed to Netflix one day off of the recording’s 39th anniversary, the film is a nostalgic trip back to the heyday of ’80s music, the year in which the likes of Cyndi Lauper, Prince, Michael Jackson, Huey Lewis, Billy Joel, Journey, Kenny Loggins and more were dominating the American and international charts, and all are included here in some form.

Antoine Fuqua‘s Michael Jackson biopic deviates from the director’s usual modus operandi of actioners. But with the cast he’s accrued for “Michael,” the upcoming film could be a sleeper hit.

Robert Fripp and Toyah Willcox have performed a cover of the Beastie Boys classic ‘Fight For Your Right’ for their latest ‘Sunday Lunch’ performance.The rendition of the iconic ‘80s hit comes as the latest instalment to the married couple’s long-running ‘Sunday Lunch’ video series – which sees them put their own spin on rock classics from their home.Although no longer a weekly series as it was in past years, the two still share the odd new video, and this time it sees them take on a Beastie Boys classic.Shared yesterday (January 28), the King Crimson guitarist took on the ‘Licensed To III’ iconic riff wearing an eye-catching gold, white and black patterned shirt, while Toyah shows off her hip-hop vocals while standing on a table in the background.Fripp even joined in on the vocal duties, singing along with the chorus, and exclaiming “Fight for your right to party with Toyah and Robert’s ‘Sunday Lunch’” at the end. Check it out below.Last week, the married couple shared a cover of Michael Jackson‘s ‘Give In To Me’ for their latest ‘Sunday Lunch’ performance, with the guitarist dressing up as Slash to take on the 1991 track.Before that, they welcomed in the New Year by kicking off 2024 with a cover of KISS’ ‘Lick It Up’.Other recent highlights include a cover of Bon Jovi’s ‘You Give Love A Bad Name’, The Black Keys‘ ‘Lonely Boy’, and Richard Berry’s ‘Have Love, Will Travel’.Last year, the pair brought their viral lockdown concept to the live stage at Glastonbury, where they performed David Bowie’s ‘Heroes’.They also looked back at the success of their series backstage with NME, sharing that the response “did surprise us”.

T-Pain has revealed that he once wrote and produced a collaboration with Michael Jackson and Usher – but it was eventually shelved.Earlier this week, the Tallahassee polymath posted a video to his social media channels, explaining how the unreleased collaboration was leaked – making Jackson reluctant to hop on the soulful track.“We are about to listen to a song that I wrote and produced that was meant for me, Usher, and Michael Jackson,” T-Pain began. “And then the person that was in charge of doing the references and the person that sang it got too excited and was like, ‘N***a, I’m on a song with Michael Jackson and Usher and T-Pain!’“Then he released it and then Michael Jackson was like, ‘Nah, never mind.

“We Are the World,” the historic 1985 charity single — where even Bob Dylan was intimidated by the star-studded session.Surrounded by everyone from Ray Charles, Diana Ross and Paul Simon to Tina Turner, Willie Nelson and Billy Joel, the Bard was clearly out of sorts — and out of his element.But it took one particular legend to help another one find his solo mojo.“The secret agent to help him get comfortable was Stevie Wonder,” says David Breskin — one of two journalists invited by producer Quincy Jones to cover the momentous occasion — in the documentary. “Stevie is an insanely great mimic,” continues Breskin, explaining how the R&B master used his special talents to help the folk god: “Stevie sang it ventriloquially in Dylan’s voice.”It’s a dead-on impression that impresses even Dylan, who — in the only time the room is cleared to give one artist his space — finally nails his part.Such is the spirit of unity that — against all odds and egos — pulled together the recording of “We Are the World” on Jan.

Variety, Domingo, known for his roles in Euphoria and Fear the Walking Dead, will star in the movie musical for which he has also written the script.“I’ve been working on it quietly for a few years,” he told Variety in a new interview. “It’s something I’m looking forward to putting together with some great partners.”Domingo previously wrote the play Lights Out: Nat ‘King’ Cole with Patricia McGregor about the musician.

It’s been a big day for Colman Domingo!

Michael Jackson’s father, Joe Jackson, in an upcoming biopic based on the King of Pop.According to a Variety report, Domingo will play Joe Jackson in the upcoming film alongside Michael’s nephew Jaafar and 9-year-old Juliano Krue Valdi – both of whom will play an adult and child version of Michael respectively.Domingo said of his casting via Variety: “It’s exciting to do it with Jaafar. Jermaine Jackson’s son is playing Michael, and he is breathtaking, and I think Graham King, the producer, has assembled an incredible cast.”He added: “I’m excited to be a part of a film that explores both the complicated soul of the legendary Michael Jackson as well as his impact on music and culture as a global icon.

Coming off of his first career Best Actor Oscar nomination for Netflix’s Rustin, Colman Domingo has more to celebrate: He just landed the role of Jackson family patriarch Joe Jackson in Lionsgate and Universal Pictures International’s Michael Jackson biopic Michael.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor Fresh off receiving his first Oscar nomination, Colman Domingo has been cast as Joe Jackson, the father of Michael Jackson, in the Antoine Fuqua-directed biopic “Michael.” The casting announcement comes after the news Jackson’s real-life nephew Jaafar would portray the King of Pop, with 9-year-old Juliano Krue Valdi tackling the singer during his early days. “It’s exciting to do it with Jaafar,” Domingo tells Variety exclusively during an upcoming episode of the Awards Circuit Podcast.

“We Are the World” was a once-in-a-generation meeting of musical giants when it was recorded Jan. 28, 1985 — and released two months later on March 7 — to benefit African famine relief.Anyone who was anyone in music at that moment — a who’s who of legends, including everyone from Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and Bob Dylan to Billy Joel, Tina Turner and Bruce Springsteen — showed up to support the cause.Written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones and ’80s hitmaker Michael Omartian, the single sold a whopping 20 million copies.

Angelique Jackson Lionel Richie has been very emotional lately, but he wants to reassure everyone that he’s okay. According to Richie, it’s just been a heady experience to look back nearly 40 years and relive all the wondrous and chaotic memories of writing and recording “We Are the World” for the new Netflix documentary “The Greatest Night in Pop.” “Every segment of this journey, I cry,” Richie said at the Variety Studio presented by Audible at Sundance Film Festival, where the film made its world premiere.

Robert Fripp and Toyah Willcox have covered Michael Jackson‘s ‘Give In To Me’ for their latest ‘Sunday Lunch’ performance.The musicians and married couple performed the “real fan fave” from the King Of Pop’s 10th album ‘Dangerous’ for this weekend’s musical ‘Sunday Lunch’ cover, which sees the pair perform classic rock songs from their kitchen.The King Crimson musician dressed up as Slash for the performance, donning the Guns N’ Roses guitarist’s signature glasses and black top hat.Willcox rocked out in front of a sign which read “Fripps my Slash” as he played the 1991 track, while the pair looked windswept with the help of a makeshift wind machine.Watch the new ‘Sunday Lunch’ cover below.Earlier this month, the couple kicked off 2024 with a cover of KISS’ ‘Lick It Up’.Other recent highlights include a cover of Bon Jovi’s ‘You Give Love A Bad Name’, The Black Keys‘ ‘Lonely Boy’, and Richard Berry’s ‘Have Love, Will Travel’.Last year, the pair brought their viral lockdown concept to the live stage at Glastonbury, where they performed David Bowie’s ‘Heroes’.They reflected on the success of their series backstage with NME, sharing that the response “did surprise us”.“We were going for about eight months and it was growing and growing and growing,” Willcox said. “It started with one very simple post: 28 seconds of us jiving.

Caroline Brew editor John Hamlin, who worked as an executive or consultant on 45 Oscar telecasts at NBC and then ABC, died on Jan. 15 in Pacific Palisades, Calif. He was 92.

Apparently, some people do not want this show to go on! Those behind a tribute act to Michael Jackson in Las Vegas claimed the late singer’s estate has been trying to cancel their show — so they’re taking them to court to battle it out now!

Michael Jackson estate have been accused of unfairly threatening to sue a tribute act, MJ Live.On Wednesday (January 17), the orgainisers of MJ Live filed a complaint to the Nevada federal court, requesting the judge rule they could continue their concerts. MJ Live performs six nights a week at the Tropicana; along with other venues, the show has been performed over 3,600 times since 2012.However, MJ Live claim that the Jackson estate has recently begun threatening to sue the impersonators.