Producer Jesse Collins: “Usher Belongs on Musical Mount Rushmore”
The Emmy-winning producer explains how he got extra 2 minutes for the halftime show, which typically runs 13 minutes long.

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The Emmy-winning producer explains how he got extra 2 minutes for the halftime show, which typically runs 13 minutes long.

Super Bowl halftime exec producer Jesse Collins says Usher’s performance on Sunday proves that he “belongs on that musical Mount Rushmore.”
“He’s one of the elites,” Collins said after the Grammy-winning star performed at the big game near Las Vegas.
Usher’s act featured high-energy dancing, strong singing, roller skates and more. Guests include Alicia Keys, Ludacris, Lil Jon, will.i.am, H.E.R. and Jermaine Dupri, and Usher ran through hits like “U Got It Bad,” “Love In this Club,” “U Don’t Have to Call” and “Yeah!”
“You’re watching someone that truly seeks perfection,” Collins adds. “And you get this incredible performer that can sing and dance and captivate an audience, and I think he did all that tonight.”
Collins has produced several halftime shows and won Emmy for work on the hip-hop heavy halftime performance starring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent and Kendrick Lamar.
One of his goals was fitting Usher’s 30-year-old catalog “in the time allotted” of 15 minutes. This year’s show was longer than past halftime shows, which are typically about 13 minutes.
When asked how he got the additional two minutes, Collins explains: “No, listen, it’s just telling people to look the other way and [that] Usher made a track that was just so great that everybody was able to make it work.”
Collins competed a production-trifecta: Emmy Awards, Grammy Awards and the Super Bowl.
“We were just moving fast and trying to take care of what was in front of us, and we’re just happy that it all worked out,” he said.