Usher honors Georgia Governor-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms at Atlanta concert, spotlighting her historic win as the first Black woman elected governor in U.S. history.1
During the opening stretch of his multi-night hometown run with Chris Brown at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, R&B superstar Usher paused to celebrate Bottoms, who was in attendance, showing stage performances by Usher (and collaborator Jeezy) alongside large screens displaying Bottoms and her group in a suite, where they stood, clapped, and acknowledged the recognition.
Bottoms, a Democrat and former Atlanta mayor (2018–2022), won the November 3, 2026, gubernatorial election, defeating Republican Rick Jackson.
Usher honors Georgia Governor-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms at Atlanta concert
Her victory made her the first Black woman elected to the governorship of any U.S. state and Georgia’s first Black and first female governor. She is scheduled to take office after a career that also included service on the Atlanta City Council, work as a prosecutor and magistrate judge, and roles in the Biden administration.
The concert tribute fits a long pattern in Atlanta, where hip-hop and R&B artists have frequently engaged with local politics. Bottoms received support from figures in the scene during her earlier mayoral campaigns, and artists including Jeezy have had public ties to her. Usher (along with Jeezy) delivered a shoutout that highlighted her historic achievement while she watched from the stands.
The stadium run itself has drawn large crowds across multiple nights, with the artists delivering high-production R&B sets. Fans and local coverage noted the political interlude as a standout moment on a night that otherwise focused on hits and guest appearances. Bottoms has spoken publicly about her roots in Atlanta, her family (including husband Derek Bottoms and their four adopted children), and her path from daughter of R&B singer Major Lance to statewide office.
The gesture underscores the intersection of Atlanta’s music culture and its evolving political landscape as Bottoms prepares to lead the state.