Usher receives city’s highest honor Phoenix Award, thanks Atlanta for their support

ATLANTA — R&B superstar Usher has had quite the week.

First, he performed the Super Bowl Halftime Show in Las Vegas on Sunday, which had record numbers. Then, he and his girlfriend got married as one does in Vegas.

On Wednesday, he returned to his Atlanta roots for a special ceremony where the city granted him the Phoenix Award -- the city’s highest honor that recognizes an individual or group for their outstanding service to the city.

[PHOTOS: Channel 2′s Karyn Greer interviews Usher]

“I’m hoping the rest of the world is feeling the love that has come from this city. Atlanta is a city of belief. Atlanta is a city that allowed me to be that Phoenix to rise. It is a city that has allowed me to have the tenacity to go out and share this culture that I found when I was here. The culture that informed who and what I am as an entertainment,” Usher said at the ceremony.

The ceremony was held by the Black Entertainment & Music Walk of Fame and Amazon Music outside Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Walk of Fame inducted Usher in its inaugural class back in 2021, but Wednesday was the first time Usher had a chance to unveil his official spot.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, media mogul L.A. Reid, former Ambassador Andrew Young and other dignitaries were in attendance as well.

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Usher was raised in Chattanooga before he moved to Atlanta and graduated from North Springs High School. Dickens recognized Usher’s Chattanooga roots but says Atlanta has adopted him as one of its ambassadors.

“The whole world got to see that Usher brought the world to the A,” Dickens said.

“I will always represent the A,” Usher said.

After receiving his honors, Usher joined WSB’s Karyn Greer at the WSB-TV studios for his first sit-down interview since that epic Super Bowl 58 Halftime performance.

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