MODERNIZE: Usher has released a statement about the injury he suffered that caused him to postpone the opening night of his Past Present Future tour on Wednesday (August 14).
The R&B crooner said he suffered a neck injury that will also force him to postpone his second and third shows scheduled for Atlanta this weekend. All three dates will be set on December 9, December 10 and December 12, respectively. The tour will actually kick off in Washington, DC on August 20, if all goes well with Usher's recovery.
See his full statement below.
“Earlier this week, I injured my neck while rehearsing to give my fans the best USHER show ever. My hope was that with physical therapy and medical care, I could overcome the injury and be ready for opening night,” he wrote. “Unfortunately, the injury has not yet healed and the doctors have instructed me not to perform at all this week. The good news is that the doctors say that with proper rest and treatment, I should be ready to start the tour in Washington on August 20.”
The Grammy-winning singer continued: “I love my fans and thank you for understanding that this injury needs to heal so that I can give you the 100% excellence that you expect from a USHER show and that I will be at Wage in your city very soon. The Atlanta dates have already been rescheduled at State Farm Arena as follows: August 14th will be rescheduled to December 9th. August 16th will be rescheduled for December 10th. August 17th will be rescheduled for December 12th.”
ORIGINAL STORY: Atlanta fans gearing up to see Usher kick off his Past Present Future tour on Wednesday night (August 14) will have to wait as the R&B superstar announced that the opening show at State Farm Arena has postponed to a later date.
Usher released a statement on social media Wednesday, hours before he was scheduled to take the stage, citing an ailment that caused him to slow down and give his body a second to rest and heal.
A representative for the singer was relayed tour-opening-night-rest-and-heal-1236106833/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Variety that Usher needed extra “time to heal from an unspecified injury.” Bulletin board Usher's team has been contacted for comment.
“For my 30-plus year career, 100% of my blood, sweat and tears have gone into delivering the best performance and creating an unforgettable experience for my fans. I have every intention of doing it for this tour too, so I have to postpone tonight's show and reschedule it for a later date to give my body a second to rest and heal,” he wrote.
The Grammy-winning singer continued: “You'll still have a bit of the past, a bit of the present and a unique glimpse into the future on the rescheduled date, but you'll also get 100% of me. The last thing I ever want to do is disappoint you, the fans who have been eagerly waiting for this tour to begin. However, I wouldn't be the entertainer that I am if I can't give you my best. My team will share news about the rescheduled date soon. I look forward to celebrating this legacy with you.”
As of press time, the second and third shows of the original trio of Atlanta dates continue as scheduled, per tickets/artist/766722″>Ticketmaster.
The Usher: Past Present Future tour is set to hit North America with stops in Boston, Toronto, New York, Detroit, Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, and wrap up in Chicago with two shows closing in October.
The trip will cap off what has been a banner year for the 45-year-old hitmaker, who headlined the Super Bowl LXVIII Halftime Show in Las Vegas in February, released his ninth studio album Back home and was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 BET Awards in June.
“Getting here definitely wasn't easy, but it was worth it,” she said while accepting the honor at the BET Awards.
A new date for Wednesday's performance has not yet been announced. Usher is next scheduled to take the stage in Atlanta for a pair of shows on Friday (August 16) and Saturday (August 17). See his full statement below.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/usher-postpones-opening-night-tour-1235753071/