Usher, riding high on the success of his Past, Present and Future tour, recently experienced an unexpected emotional moment in Dublin—one that left him reflecting on how Black artistes are celebrated beyond the US, per standard.co.uk.
The eight-time Grammy winner, currently dazzling London’s O2 Arena with a 10-night residency, took time to explore Europe between shows. But it was a bronze statue in Dublin that stopped him in his tracks—the iconic tribute to Phil Lynott, the Black Irish rock legend and frontman of Thin Lizzy.
“I didn’t know Black people were celebrated in the way that they are over there,” Usher confessed in an interview with The Standard*. “It was amazing. I’d like to see more things like that in America.”
Erected in 2005 outside Dublin’s famed Bruxelles pub, the Lynott statue stands as a testament to the rocker’s enduring influence. Lynott, who passed away in 1986 at just 36, remains a beloved figure in Irish music history. For Usher, seeing a Black artist immortalized in such a way was profoundly moving.
*”You see recognition in sports, politics, civil work—but in music, you don’t see it that much,” Usher reflected. While acknowledging institutions like the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Washington’s Museum of African American Culture, he emphasized the need for more tributes to Black musicians. “There’s so much more history, so many more people who’ve done amazing things—they should be celebrated.”
Usher’s tour, announced during his electrifying Super Bowl halftime show, has been a magnet for A-listers. From Oscar winner Daniel Kaluuya to supermodel Naomi Campbell—who made a surprise appearance at his O2 show—the star power around his performances has been undeniable.
Yet, beyond the glitz, Usher has been struck by the cultural appreciation he’s encountered abroad. “Outside of America, there is much more respect for Black culture,” he noted.
After wrapping his London residency, Usher heads to Paris, Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam and Berlin before returning to close the tour on May 7. But his Dublin visit—and that statue—will linger in his mind.
“America has always been harder for Black people,” he mused. Perhaps, inspired by Lynott’s legacy, he’ll spark a new conversation about honoring Black artists back home.
