Usher - Jay-Z Tips Usher To Be New King Of Pop

JAY-Z was so impressed with USHER's tribute to MICHAEL JACKSON at Sunday night's (31Jan10) Grammy Awards, he's tipped the R&B star to become the new KING OF POP.

The Yeah! hitmaker joined Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, Smokey Robinson and Carrie Underwood to perform Jackson's Earth Song at the annual awards ceremony.

The 99 Problems star was watching from the audience at Los Angeles' Staples Center - and he predicts a groundbreaking future for Usher.

He tells Access Hollywood, “I thought the Michael Jackson tribute was fantastic and I thought Usher was doing a magnificent job.

"I think he’s… He’s one of the guys that’s in line to, you know, fill those huge shoes. I don’t wanna put that pressure on him, but I think he’s one of the guys that’s in line to do that.”