Usher postpones tour for second time due to neck injury

Usher has postponed the start of his Past Present Future tour for a second time, citing a neck injury.

The “Yeah!” singer announced the update in a post on Instagram on Thursday. “Earlier this week, I suffered an injury to my neck while rehearsing to provide my fans with the greatest USHER show of all time,” he wrote. “Unfortunately, the injury has not healed yet, and my doctors have instructed me not to perform any shows this week.”

Usher thanked fans for their patience, and said that he now plans to begin the tour in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, Aug. 16. The singer’s three original kickoff shows at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta have now been rescheduled for December.

Hours before he was set to take the stage, Usher has announced that he is postponing the opening night of his Past Present Future tour.

In a Wednesday statement shared across social media, the “OMG” singer revealed that he is canceling his Aug. 14 performance at the State Farm Arena in his hometown of Atlanta.

“For my 30-plus year career, 100% of my blood, sweat and tears has gone into putting on the best performance and creating a memorable experience for my fans,” Usher told followers on X and Instagram. “I have every intention of doing that for this tour as well which is why 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 continued, “You’re still going to get a bit of the past, some of the present and a unique look into the future on the rescheduled date but you’ll also be getting 100% of me.”

Representatives for Usher did not immediately respond to Entertainment Weekly’s request for comment.

Initial news of Usher’s tour came hot off the heels of his epic Super Bowl Halftime show in February, just in time for the release of his latest album, Coming Home.

Though the singer offered no further details about his present need to “heal,” viewers of the Halftime performance and attendees of his two-year Las Vegas residency will recall that Usher’s concerts are physically demanding, often featuring elaborate choreography throughout.

“The last thing I want to ever do is disappoint you, the fans who have been eagerly waiting for this tour to start,” Usher wrote. “However, I wouldn’t be the entertainer that I am if I can’t physically give you my best.”

He concluded,  “My team will be sharing news of the rescheduled date soon. I can’t wait to celebrate this legacy with you.”

In addition to the opening night performance, Usher was also set to perform at the Atlanta arena on Friday and Saturday. The singer offered no comment on whether this weekend’s concerts would continue as planned.

Outside of the scrapped opening night, the tour will see Usher traveling North America through November 30, before embarking on the international leg in 2025, starting with a March 29 kickoff at London’s O2 Arena.

After wrapping his 100-show Vegas residency in December, Usher enjoyed a milestone year in 2024. The R&B star headlined at the Super Bowl, dropped a new album, married his longtime girlfriend ​​Jennifer Goicoechea, accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BET Awards, and celebrated the anniversary of his biggest album ever, 2004’s Confessions.

Credit: ew.com