The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Episode: Usher | Watch This Space
Date: September 12, 2025

Overview of the Episode

This episode of The Late Show Pod Show features an engaging and lively interview with R&B superstar Usher. Stephen Colbert and Usher discuss Usher's musical upbringing in the church, his evolution as an artist, onstage antics (including the now-famous “cherry moment”), and his new partnership with Ralph Lauren’s fragrance line. The episode oscillates between playful banter, heartfelt storytelling, and Stephen’s usual incisive humor, with the backdrop of political news, pop culture monologue, and some wild sci-fi tangents.

Key Sections & Discussion Points

1. Addressing Current Events and Monologue Highlights

Timestamps: 03:56 – 15:50

• Condemnation of Political Violence:

  • Stephen addresses the recent assassination of activist Charlie Kirk, condemning political violence regardless of ideology.
    • "It should go without saying that violence is never the answer to political disagreement. But I think these days it should be said as often as possible..." [03:59]

• Alien Encounters & Declassified UFO Footage:

  • Colbert riffs on declassified footage purportedly showing a US drone trying unsuccessfully to down a UFO:
    • "No, you fools. Don't shoot it down. Now the aliens will conquer our planet and enslave us beneath their bustier-wearing intergalactic queen." [04:35]
    • Jokes about self-healing alien technology: "The aliens have developed Terminator 2 technology. Or even worse, flex seal." [05:42]

• Signs of Life on Mars:

  • Jokes about NASA’s Perseverance rover discovering mineral spots on Mars:
    • "...proving my long-held theory that billions of years ago, Mars was an everything bagel." [07:09]

• British Political Scandals & Commentary:

  • Stephen comedically covers the UK ambassador to the US being fired over Epstein links and contrasts US/UK political scandals.

• Vaccine Misinformation & Celebrity Politicians:

  • Roasts RFK Jr. for exaggerating childhood vaccine numbers.
  • Notes Trump's surprisingly pro-vaccine comment.
    • "Wow, that is shockingly sensible. But you know what they say about a broken clock. It was close friends with Jeffrey Epstein, but equality." [12:33]

• Other News Quick Hits:

  • Trump Organization losing control of Central Park skating rink.
  • 93% of German pilots admit to napping during flights:
    • "Apparently, German pilots nap so much, there's a German word for it. Das Schleepi Pilot. Honking Schwein." [15:36]

2. Usher Interview – Part 1: Musical Roots & Transformation

Timestamps: 17:13 – 23:50

Meeting at the Obama White House

• Nostalgic Reflection:
  • Stephen and Usher reminisce about meeting at the “lose the deposit party” at the White House at the end of Obama's presidency.
    • "At one point, I was on the dance floor and it was you and me and Janelle Monae and Barack Obama in a circle." [18:10]
    • Usher: "That's one heck of a cipher for you." [18:12]

Usher’s Church Beginnings & Spirituality in Music

• Musical Foundation:

  • Usher shares how singing in church—thanks to his mother, the youth choir director—shaped both his artistry and connection with audiences.
    • "There's a spiritual side of it. I got that from the church." [19:20]
    • "Obviously, you're singing hymns. You're singing for Christ. You know, you're singing to God. And it was really the beginning for me." [19:36]

• Gospel Favorites:

  • Usher names Darryl Coley’s “When Sunday Comes” as his favorite gospel song. ([19:48])

The Leap from Choirboy to R&B Icon

• Transitioning Genres:
  • Stephen: "How'd you go from Amazing Grace to Nice and Slow? How did we go from choirboy to this man?" [20:07]
  • Usher jokes about the contrast, embracing his evolution.
  • On his famous abs:
    • Stephen: "Is it true you used to do a thousand crunches a day?"
    • Usher: "Yeah, I used to... Now that you're 46 is it going... No, I still crunch. It's just not crunches, you know, it's Captain Crunch." [20:48 – 21:01]

The Famous “Cherry” Concert Moment

• Viral On-stage Moments:
  • Discussion about Usher feeding cherries to fans during his recent tour:
    • Usher: "The whole idea is just, you know, giving women the freedom to have fun at a concert." [22:49]
  • Addressing rumors:
    • "They say that this lady ended up getting a divorce, which was not true as a result of that moment happening." [23:08]
  • Celebrities who set boundaries:
    • "Mookie Betts of the LA Dodgers... He comes over to me, he's like, yo, no serenading, bro. Leave the cherries at home. No cherries." [23:24]

3. Usher Interview – Part 2: The Ralph Lauren Fragrance & Brand Collaboration

Timestamps: 24:51 – 27:50

Becoming the Face of Ralph Lauren Fragrance

• Product Introduction:

  • Stephen jokingly compares Ralph’s Club New York to Sam’s Club (“Can you get it in bulk?”) [25:12]
  • Usher describes the fragrance:
    • "You're getting a little bit of lavender... some sandalwood... two black currant in this..." [25:39 – 25:52]

• Creative Involvement:

  • Usher contributed feedback to the scent’s development.
    • "I had opinions, but definitely I had a lot of opinions about what we were creating." [26:03]

• Musical Tie-In:

  • Usher remade “New York, New York” (by both Liza Minnelli and Frank Sinatra) as part of the campaign:
    • Usher (singing): "If I can make it there, I can make it anywhere. It's up to you, New York, New York, New York." [26:24]

Playful Closing & Scent Experience

• Live-Read Parody:
  • Stephen delivers the dramatic fragrance ad copy while Usher poses for seductive camera shots.
    • "Success is a state of mind. Ralph's Club New York is a seductive scent for men inspired by the vibrancy of New York City..." [27:38]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Political Violence:

  • Stephen Colbert: "It should go without saying that violence is never the answer to political disagreement. But I think these days it should be said as often as possible..." [03:59]

• On Artistic Roots:

  • Usher: "There's a spiritual side of it. I got that from the church. I never quite learned to read music, even though I have an honorary doctorate from Berkeley." [19:20]

• On the Cherry Moment:

  • Usher: "The whole idea of cherries is just, you know, giving women the freedom to have fun at a concert. You know what I mean?" [22:49]
  • On protective husbands/boyfriends:
    • "There have been a couple of people who were very clear that they didn't want me to feed cherries. Mookie Betts of the LA Dodgers. He comes over to me, he's like, yo, no serenading, bro. Leave the cherries at home. No cherries." [23:24]

• On Scent & Branding:

  • Usher: "You're getting a little bit of lavender, some sandalwood, two black currant in this, and really great to be a part of the Ralph Lauren family, man." [25:39]
  • Stephen: "I'm gonna go home smelling like Usher and buy some cherries on the way home." [26:48]

• On Making New York, New York His Own:

  • Usher (singing): "If I can make it there, I can make it anywhere. It's up to you, New York, New York, New York." [26:24]

Important Timestamps

• Monologue & Current Events:

  • [03:56] – [15:50]

• Usher Interview Part 1 (Musical Journey):

  • [17:13] – [23:50]

• Usher Interview Part 2 (Fragrance & Branding):

  • [24:51] – [27:50]

Episode Tone & Style

• The episode is a lively blend of playful roasting, heartfelt reflection, and classic late-night wit.
• Usher's openness and humor match Colbert’s style, making for an entertaining and occasionally irreverent conversation.
• The interview segments are punctuated by personal anecdotes, showbiz banter, and a bit of impromptu singing.

Summary Takeaways

• Usher’s journey: From singing in church to shaping R&B culture, with strong emphasis on spirituality and audience connection.
• Public persona vs. private beginnings: The playful contrast between “choirboy Usher” and “Sexy Usher” is a recurring theme, handled with warmth and wit.
• Cultural relevance: Usher’s moments on stage, like the “cherry feeding,” become talking points on celebrity boundaries and fan interaction.
• Business & branding: Usher’s collaboration with Ralph Lauren demonstrates his ongoing impact outside of music, complemented by musical tie-ins and creative input.
• Host-guest chemistry: The shared stories (especially the Obama White House party) and mutual respect create a congenial, entertaining atmosphere.

For listeners seeking both laughs and substance, this episode delivers memorable stories, revealing artist insights, and plenty of celebrity sparkle.