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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Usher emerged at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium for the Super Bowl halftime show seated on a throne, joined by a marching band and a trove of Vegas performers — but stayed its center.
It was an immediate confirmation of his position as the ideal halftime performer: one with timeless, well-known hits, masterful choreography, and a devoted audience.
He started with “Caught Up,” moving into “U Don’t Have to Call,” “Superstar,” and “Love in the Club.”
Then Alicia Keys joined in front of bright red piano for her song “If I Ain’t Got You,” which morphed into “My Boo,” Usher losing a glove in an apparent tribute to Michael Jackson — notable for a performance during Black History Month.
“They said I wouldn’t make it,” he told the crowd, dedicating the set to his “mama.”
Across 13 minutes during the halftime show sponsored by Apple Music, Usher brought out a number of guests including H.E.R., Jermaine Dupri, Lil Jon (for “Turn Down for What,” which became “Yeah!” — and included a guest appearance from Ludacris).
Across three decades, the R&B superstar had an endless treasure trove of hits to pull from — and did so with costume changes, and a rolling performance of “OMG” while wearing roller skates — at one moment, sliding between will.i.am’s legs.
His album “Confessions” ranks among one of the best-selling music projects of all time and turned 20 this year; “Burn” became an easy performance highlight.
Over the past two years, Usher, 45, has made Vegas a home for his unique talents, with his sold-out residency, “Usher: My Way,” at Dolby Live at Park MGM making him the perfect pick for Sunday’s game.
The eight-time Grammy award winner is also no stranger to the Super Bowl stage — he made a guest appearance with Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am in 2011.
“I got a chance to see a bit of what it felt like,” Usher told The Associated Press in a recent interview. In his first Super Bowl performance, he descended from the stadium ceiling to perform “OMG” in Arlington, Texas.
“Don’t take the moments for granted because you only get 13 of them,” he said in advance of his 2024 performance, referring to the usually allotted 13-minute run time. “The hardest part is trying to figure out how to squeeze it all in when you actually have a large catalog, or a lot of records people celebrate and love.”
Without a doubt — he figured out exactly how to do just that.
FAQs
Letter Grade: B+
This year's halftime show was all about Usher. He was quite the showman with lots of good energy and exciting choreography, including the impressive dancing set on roller skates.
Who won the Super Bowl 2024 halftime show? ›
Usher headlined the Super Bowl LVIII halftime show in Las Vegas — but he wasn't the only performer football fans got to see singing as part of festivities surrounding the 2024 big game.
How much did Usher get paid for the Super Bowl? ›
Usher, like his Super Bowl halftime show predecessors, spent months preparing for the world's biggest stage — but he didn't get paid for any of it.
Who performed with Usher at the Super Bowl 2024? ›
The performance featured Alicia Keys, Ludacris, Lil Jon and more. From outfit changes, to dancers and a marching band, Usher pulled out all the stops to deliver an impressive performance at the 2024 Super Bowl halftime show.
Was the 2024 halftime show good? ›
12. Usher (2024): 37.5 points. For as excellent as the second half of this show was, it will be easy to forget in a few years that it started pretty shaky.
How many views did Usher's halftime show get? ›
Usher's NFL Super Bowl 58 Halftime Show Sets Record by Drawing 129.3M Viewers. The Super Bowl LVIII broadcast wasn't the only thing setting viewership records over the weekend. The NFL announced Usher's halftime performance drew 129.3 million viewers, setting an all-time record.
Who sang with Usher at halftime? ›
Usher performed the Apple Music Super Bowl 58 Halftime Show featuring cameos from Alicia Keys, Lil' Jon, Ludacris, will.i.am, Jermaine Dupri and H.E.R.
Who is singing for the Super Bowl 2024? ›
Super Bowl LVIII from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas won't be short on star power, and that includes the pregame entertainment lineup headlined by Reba McEntire and Post Malone. The former will sing the national anthem and the latter will sing "America the Beautiful." The big game will be broadcast on CBS (Feb.
Who is the girl with the guitar half time show 2024? ›
electrifies 2024 Super Bowl with guitar solo during Usher's halftime show. Filipino American artist Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson, known professionally as H.E.R., made a surprise appearance during Usher's halftime show at the 2024 Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers.
Who turned down the Super Bowl halftime show in 2024? ›
The Real Reason Why Justin Bieber Turned Down.
R&B singer and songwriter Usher has a net worth of $180 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. In 2023, Usher made $40 million from 34 shows at his residency at Las Vegas' Dolby Live stage.
Did Usher and Alicia Keys date? ›
While Keys and Usher released “My Boo” in 2004, the twosome never dated. Keys began dating Beatz in 2008 after he split from ex-wife Mashonda Tifrere. Shortly after Beatz's divorce was finalized in 2010, he and Keys tied the knot.
How good was Usher's halftime show? ›
This year at Super Bowl LVIII in Allegiant Stadium Las Vegas, Usher was the halftime show performer! He had a super exciting flashy show with tons of impressive dancing, props, stage changes, and fun lights to keep the audience interested.
What is Usher's biggest hit? ›
Usher's Billboard Top 10 hits:
- You Make Me Wanna.
- Yeah!
- DJ Got US Fallin' In Love.
- U Got It Bad.
- Burn.
- OMG.
- Without You.
- Caught up.
Usher is a married man! The “Yeah!” singer had a big day on Super Bowl Sunday. In addition to performing the halftime show, he also tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend, Jenn Goicoechea.
Who is the most watched halftime show? ›
Rihanna. Rihanna performs during Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show at State Farm Stadium on Feb. 12, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. With 121 million viewers, Rihanna's 2023 performance during Super Bowl LVII is the most-watched halftime show in history.
What is Usher's net worth? ›
R&B singer and songwriter Usher has a net worth of $180 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. In 2023, Usher made $40 million from 34 shows at his residency at Las Vegas' Dolby Live stage.
