Interview Ends Over 20 Years of Tension between the Artist and Radio Personality Bert Weiss
Multi-platinum GRAMMY Award-winning global entertainer Usher joined “The Bert Show” on Q99.7 Atlanta earlier this week for an hour-long conversation in celebration of his newest album “Coming Home,” current North American tour, indelible 2024 Super Bowl half-time performance and marriage to longtime partner Jennifer Goicoechea. The Atlanta native got candid with the show’s hosts Bert Weiss, Kristin Klingshirn, Moe Mitchell and Abby Murphy during an interview that ended a decades-long strained relationship between the iconic performer and the show’s namesake Bert Weiss.
Following a 20-year hiatus on the popular morning radio show due to a tense 2004 conversation between Weiss and the R&B superstar surrounding allegations the singer cheated on then-girlfriend Chilli of TLC fame, Tuesday’s appearance marked an amends between the two after Usher shared how his successful “Confessions” album stemmed from the infamous interview decades prior. What began as one of the most heated exchanges in the show’s history culminated in Usher ultimately crediting “The Bert Show” as a springboard for one of the biggest and most widely recognized R&B albums of all time.
Regarding the contentious history and interview in question, Usher stated, “As a journalist, you did your job by making certain that you gave her [Chilli] the space and then reported what you saw or heard. Uh, the ultimate ‘no no’ came out of that conversation. That’s what she said. And when that ultimate ‘no no’ then led to the conversation that became Confessions.... It all started right here with this man. And after that, the Confessions album came out, and the rest is history.”
“An interview is only as good as the person you’re interviewing allows it to be,” said The Bert Show’s namesake host Bert Weiss. “And Usher came in here vulnerable, comfortable and eager to talk. This hour-long conversation with Usher was undoubtedly one of the highlights of my career.”
“Tuesday was truly an epic day with closure on a story that began with Bert and Usher over 20 years ago,” said Cumulus Vice President/Top 40 and Q99.7 (formerly Q100) Program Director Louie Diaz.
Watch the full interview via “The Bert Show” YouTube to hear “Mr. Entertainment” detail why his iconic Super Bowl performance was almost a no-go, the future plans he and wife Jennifer have for an even bigger wedding and more about life as one of the world’s most prolific entertainers.
About The Bert Show
The Bert Show offers a blend of lifestyle advice, national entertainment news, celebrity interviews, humor and on-air community to listeners for over two decades. The Bert Show is heard in 26 markets and a daily podcast with an average 4 million downloads each month. The show gives back to the community with charitable programs, including Bert’s Big Adventure, which provides an all-expenses-paid, five-day journey to Walt Disney World® for children with chronic and terminal illnesses and their families. For syndication information, please contact Westwood One.
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Usher credits The Bert Show Radio Interview with Inspiring his “Confessions” Album
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