When is the last time you looked in a mirror and really looked at yourself?
That morning, I say.
When you looked in that mirror, did you tell yourself you loved yourself?
COVER LOOKUsher wears a Willy Chavarria jacket and pants. Model Carolyn Murphy wears a Miu Miu jacket, skirt, and sandals.
Did you tell yourself that you forgive yourself?
Reader, I had.
But only because when we spoke the prior afternoon Usher had suggested it.
BEWITCHEDUsher wears an Ami tank top. Alexander McQueen pants. Murphy wears a Gucci dress.Fashion Editor: Max Ortega.
I did, too, this morning, he says, with a flash of his famous megawatt grin.
Its a little psyched-out to say this, but it made me feel good.
(Not unrelatedly, he has a bunion that requires surgery.)
DRIVE MY CAR“Truly a rarity,” Murphy says of Usher, in front of Allegiant Stadium, the site of Super Bowl LVIII. Usher wears a Dolce & Gabbana jacket and pants, Bally boots, Kwiat, and David Yurman jewelry. Murphy wears an Altuzarra jacket, top, and skirt, and Schiaparelli shoes.
Usher doesnt sleep much.
The day before, as we drove together betweenVogueshoot locations, he got quiet thinking of the pressure.
But one thing about Usher is that he knows about the power of love.
ROLL CALLUsher, with members of his creative and grooming teams (and his dog Scarlett), backstage at Park MGM. Usher wears a Louis Vuitton Men’s tank top and pants and David Yurman jewelry. Murphy, at left, in Ralph Lauren Collection. On the floor: Louis Vuitton Men’s bags.
Usher wears a Dolce & Gabbana jacket and pants, Bally boots, Kwiat, and David Yurman jewelry.
Murphy wears an Altuzarra jacket, top, and skirt, and Schiaparelli shoes.
You have never met someone so loved as Usher.
MADE IN THE SHADEUsher wears an Alexander McQueen shirt, pants, and belt, and Kwiat jewelry. Tom Ford boots. Murphy wears a Louis Vuitton dress.
And I dont just mean in his music, though love is more often than not its subject.
I mean in the larger sensethe global sense.
(He allowed it for a few bars with a kind okaaay, before gently removing himself.)
STARTING SQUADUsher and Murphy fire up young members of the Jr Gaels 6U team. Usher wears a Willy Chavarria jacket and pants. Murphy wears a Miu Miu jacket, skirt, and sandal.
He knelt and fixed it, crooning with the same grin as before.
Not a soul alive wants to see Usher fall.
Sure, youre probably thinking, lots of big stars are loved.
Thats why theyre big stars.
And plenty of them behave badly and retain deep banks of parasocial fan armies to rise to their defense.
This is not like that.
Or Balmains Olivier Rousteing, who designed Ushers wardrobe for the first stretch of his Vegas residency.
Usher is just so humble and so kind and so generous, Rousteing tells me.
Usher wears a Louis Vuitton Mens tank top and pants and David Yurman jewelry.
Murphy, at left, in Ralph Lauren Collection.
On the floor: Louis Vuitton Mens bags.
What a gentleman, truly a rarity, she said.
So shell think Im cool.
Come on: ItsUsher.
But I see them having a great time and Im like,Here it is Theres that million-dollar smile.
Now go have a good time.
Usher in Kwiat jewelry.
Murphy in Bottega Veneta jewelry.
He sort of stole the show, I tell him.
He shrugs, faux-demure.
(Usher doesnt brag.)
You know you were a hit, I nudge.
It worked, he grins.
It sure did: Rousteing compares his talents and cultural weight to that of Michael Jackson or Prince.
When he came to my show for the first time in 2020, I was crying.
MADE IN THE SHADEUsher wears an Alexander McQueen shirt, pants, and belt, and Kwiat jewelry.
Murphy wears a Louis Vuitton dress.
Fashion has always been important to him, Usher says.
I always present myself as a gentleman, he says.
These days he finds himself using the rare quiet moment to think about what he might do next.
His own clothing line could be in the cards.
Im not looking to be 60 years old up there.
That list of possible next projects?
Hes a collaborative guy who doesnt much like to sit still.
I was the kid who never wanted to stop, he says.
Its no wonder were wondering what he might be dreaming next.
I always present myself as a gentleman, Usher says.
It has to beperfect, Usher says.
Ive been doing this for 30 years, Usher says.
Im literally speaking to every woman, he says, I want to make it feel like that.
So Im carrying a little bit of that, he says.
Its made me feel joyous.
STARTING SQUADUsher and Murphy fire up young members of the Jr Gaels 6U team.
Usher wears a Willy Chavarria jacket and pants.
Murphy wears a Miu Miu jacket, skirt, and sandal.
Its all still on the table, once he gets the next few months off his plate.
He slides down in his seat and taps his fingers together in front of his nose, mastermind-style.
Im a dreamer, man, he says.
He straightens up and looks at the city skyline again, hanging like a mirage over his swimming pool.
Scarlett has wandered over to nap in the sun.
Sire and Sovereign are inside trying on their Halloween costumes (Mario and Princess Peach).
His chef wants to know if were hungry.
The Usher universe whirls onward and upward.
Im not invested in that.
Ithankyou, I thank you very much.
But akingdom.That is going to last longer.
In this story: For Usher: hair, Shawn Shizz Porter; makeup, Lola Okanlawon.
For Carolyn Murphy: hair, Evanie Frausto using Bumble and Bumble; makeup, Raisa Flowers.
