NEW YORK (ShowTime/ LaFace/Zomba Records) -
Usher will burn up the stage with the concert event of the year from San Juan's Coliseo de Puerto Rico live on SHOWTIME Saturday, March 5 at 9pm ET/ PT (please note tape delay on the West Coast). Usher, who recently swept the Billboard
Music Awards with 11 wins and received eight Grammy nominations including Album of the Year, will perform a 90-minute live show titled ONE NIGHT ONE STAR USHER LIVE, featuring chart-topping hits from his latest multi-platinum selling album "Confessions." The concert marks the first and only time the star will perform a full-length live show on television in 2005.
"Usher is, without question, the biggest thing in the music business right now, and we're thrilled he wanted to do his live concert with us," said SHOWTIME'S President of Entertainment, Robert Greenblatt. "Every network bandies the word 'event' around – well, this is the real deal."
In a way only
Usher can, the star will perform tracks from "
Confessions" including the No 1 singles "
Yeah!" and "Burn," along with his signature hits such as "You Make Me Wanna" and "U Remind Me." Known for his ultra-sexy dance moves and silky smooth vocals, the LaFace/Zomba recording artist's live show – complete with innovative choreography, explosive special effects and unsurpassed energy – will be filmed in HDTV.
From Friday, March 4 through Monday, March 7, SHOWTIME will offer a free-preview weekend for viewers nationwide. In addition to this extraordinary concert, SHOWTIME also features a blockbuster weekend of original programming, including the premiere of the highly-anticipated new comedy series, "Fat Actress" starring Kirstie Alley, and the return of the Emmy-nominated hit series, "Penn &Teller: Bullshit!"
Usher and "
Confessions" have enjoyed record-breaking success. 2004's Top Seller, "
Confessions" sold 1.1 million copies in its first week – the highest ever R&B debut – and has since been certified eight-times platinum. A string of three #1 hits from the album – "Yeah!," "Burn," and "Confessions Part II" – prompted the re-release of "Confessions," a special edition with four additional tracks, including No 1 hit single "My Boo." "Yeah!," "Burn, "Confessions Part II," and "
My Boo" combined to give
Usher 28 weeks at No 1 in 2004, the first time an artist has ever held the No 1 spot for more than half the year.
One of today's most successful recording artists,
Usher began his career at the young age of 13 at an Atlanta "Star Search" competition. Shortly after, L.A. Reid signed the Chattanooga, Tennessee native to his first record deal with Laface Records and began working on his debut self-titled album, produced by music impresario, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs. In 1997, Usher's career exploded with his sophomore release "
My Way" which became eight-times platinum, fueled by the party single "You Make Me Wanna." Usher's status as a bona fide superstar was solidified with the release of his next albums: the critically acclaimed "Usher Live" and "8701," which featured the two Grammy-winning tracks, "
U Remind Me" and "U Got It Bad."
Usher's most recent effort "
Confessions" marks his most vocally and creatively definitive release to date, in addition to dominating the airwaves and sales charts. The singer/songwriter/producer has a bevy of awards under his belt including Grammys, American
Music Awards, VH1 Big in 2004 Award, Soul
Train Music Awards, a Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award, Billboard
Music Awards and many more.
In addition,
Usher is also a gifted actor – his feature film credits include "Light It Up," "The Faculty," "She's All That," "Geppetto" and "Texas Rangers." His television credits include guest-starring roles on "American Dreams," "Twilight Zone" and "Moesha" among others.
Beginning production in early 2005,
Usher will also star in a new movie for MTV Films which he will executive produce. Most recently,
Usher has signed on to star in and executive produce Lions Gate's drama "Dying for Dolly."
