During last night’s Super Bowl halftime show, Usher took us through 25 years of R&B excellence in a mere 15 minutes. If you didn’t catch the show, it was insane — Usher rolled (literally) through hits, was joined on stage by the likes of Alicia Keys, Lil Jon, and Ludacris, had about four costume changes. It was a testament to the star power and discipline of Usher, who reminded the world he was still on top of his game as a vocalist and performer.
And for sneakerheads paying attention — a reminder that Usher has fantastic taste in footwear. During the final stretch of his performance, Usher strutted around the stage in a shimmering pair of chromed-out Jordan 4s, which may have had you wondering: How can I get a fresh pair of those?
Here is everything we know about Usher’s Jordan 4s:
If you were hoping to score a pair, we’re sorry to say you’re out of luck. Usher’s silver 4s were a custom job crafted by none other than the Shoe Surgeon himself, Dominic Ciambrone. The sneaker featured a simple three-color design with a metallic chrome upper, a white midsole, and blue accents with a custom stone-encrusted “U” logo at the heel.
Chrome uppers aren’t that big of a rarity in the sneaker world but we’ve never seen the metallic color on a pair of Jordan 4s, so if you’re hoping for a dupe that’ll get you in the same ballpark, it’s… not going to happen. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make something similar.
The Shoe Surgeon is currently taking requests on his website, so if you’re looking to build the sneaker of your dreams, hit up the site.
Multi-platinum artist Usher, in response to overwhelming fan demand, has expanded his massive 2024 North America tour, “USHER: Past Present Future,” to include more cities and additional shows in Atlanta. Produced by Live Nation, the now 51-date tour will kick off in Atlanta and make stops in major cities like Seattle, Las Vegas, Vancouver, and more, concluding at the Toyota Center in Houston on November 27.
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Usher recently performed at The Apple Music Halftime Show on February 11 in Las Vegas, delivering a celebration of his illustrious 30-year career. Speaking about the performance, Usher expressed gratitude for the energy and support from fans, guest performers, and crew, emphasizing his goal of bringing people together through music and performance.
His latest album, “COMING HOME,” released on February 9, has already achieved significant success, hitting #1 on various charts including Apple Music’s Top Albums, R&B Top Album, and Top Music Videos R&B chart. Several tracks from the album have also performed well on radio and streaming platforms.
Tickets for the extended tour will be available starting with a Citi presale on Tuesday, February 13, followed by additional presales throughout the week, and general on-sale beginning Friday, February 16 at 10 am local time. VIP packages and experiences will also be offered for fans seeking an enhanced concert experience.
USHER: PAST PRESENT FUTURE NORTH AMERICA 2024 TOUR DATES:
Fri Aug 16 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena ADDED DATE
Sat Aug 17 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena ADDED DATE
Tue Aug 20 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena
Wed Aug 21 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena
Fri Aug 23 – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena
Sat Aug 24 – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena
Tue Aug 27 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
Wed Aug 28 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
Fri Aug 30 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center
Sat Aug 31 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center
Mon Sep 02 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
Tue Sep 03 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
Fri Sep 06 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
Sat Sep 07 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
Mon Sep 09 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
Tue Sep 10 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
Thu Sep 12 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
Fri Sep 13 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
Tue Sep 17 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
Wed Sep 18 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
Sat Sep 21 – Los Angeles, CA – Intuit Dome
Sun Sep 22 – Los Angeles, CA – Intuit Dome
Tue Sep 24 – Los Angeles, CA – Intuit Dome
Wed Sep 25 – Los Angeles, CA – Intuit Dome
Sat Sep 28 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena
Sun Sep 29 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena
Thu Oct 03 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center ADDED DATE
Fri Oct 04 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center
Sat Oct 05 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center
Mon Oct 07 – Austin, TX – Moody Center ATX
Tue Oct 08 – Austin, TX – Moody Center ATX
Fri Oct 11 – Miami, FL – Kaseya Center
Sat Oct 12 – Miami, FL – Kaseya Center
Mon Oct 14 – Miami, FL – Kaseya Center
Thu Oct 17 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
Fri Oct 18 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
Sun Oct 20 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
Tue Oct 22 – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center
Wed Oct 23 – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center
Fri Oct 25 – St Louis, MO – Enterprise Center
Sat Oct 26 – St Louis, MO – Enterprise Center
Mon Oct 28 – Chicago, IL – United Center
Tue Oct 29 – Chicago, IL – United Center
Thu Oct 31 – Chicago, IL – United Center
Sat Nov 02 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Center ADDED DATE
Thu Nov 07 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena ADDED DATE
Sun Nov 10 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena ADDED DATE
Fri Nov 15 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena ADDED DATE
Mon Nov 18 – Anaheim, CA – Honda Center ADDED DATE
Sat Nov 23 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center ADDED DATE
Wed Nov 27 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center ADDED DATE
Usher’s incredible Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show performance gave viewers 25+ years worth of hits crammed into the 15-minute set. It also delivered a banger of a new meme for fans online who couldn’t help but swoon at a tender moment he shared with guest artist Alicia Keys. Fittingly, she had joined him onstage to perform their 2004 hit “My Boo” which led to a tender embrace.
Naturally, their chemistry sent fans into a tizzy, resulting in a number of jokes at the expense of the stars’ spouses, Swizz Beats and Jennifer Goicoechea — especially Swizz. Check out some samples below.
Swizz, however, is holding it together — or, at least, trying to make it look that way. In an Instagram post with shots from the performance, the producer wrote, “Y’all talking about the wrong damn thing!!! y’all don’t see that amazing dress covering the entire stadium? Tonight’s performance was nothing but amazing with 2 amazing giants. Congrats @usher and my love @aliciakeys that song is a classic. We don’t do negative vibes on this side we make history.”
And, look, we get why the smoldering moment would get fans’ attention. After all, Usher did once sing, “Don’t leave your girl ’round me, true playa for real.” Swizz is probably safe. Probably.
As People notes, Usher and Jennifer Goicoechea first sparked dating rumors when they were seen together at producer Keith Thomas’ 40th birthday party in June 2019. They have since had two children together: daughter Sovereign Bo, born in 2020, and son Sire Castrello, born in 2021.
Furthermore, the publication reports that according to court records, Usher and Goicoechea got a marriage license in Clark County, Nevada on February 8. A marriage certificate does not appear to have been filed yet, but perhaps one will be soon if the two decided to have a Las Vegas wedding while in town for the big performance.
In November 2023, Usher told People of Goicoechea, “I have an amazing partner, a support system. We have any amazing dynamic between our relationship, where I’m able to be passionate still about what I do, and have an incredible partner to work through some of the harder times as a young man, dealing with children and dealing with the dynamic of how you communicate with them.”
He also said, “I’m very happy, very fortunate to have an incredible friend, not just a partner. She’s my best friend and I love her.”
Nope. Usher didn’t get paid for his stellar Super Bowl Halftime Show performance, no matter how good it was.
Stars who perform the Super Bowl Halftime Show are usually given a budget with which to stage the show so they aren’t coming out of pocket, but they also don’t get a check at the end of the night (or up front) as they would for a normal concert.
So, why do they do it? Because, simply put, it’s an opportunity to get their faces and work in front of the biggest television audience in pop culture today. For instance, going into this show, some fans were actively questioning whether Usher was someone who should be doing the Super Bowl, wondering if he was “big enough” for TV’s biggest moment.
Now, after the performance, not only have those skeptics largely been converted, but many of them will also be checking out Usher’s catalog, or checking for him in the future. To paraphrase Shaq: They weren’t familiar with his game, but they are now.
In the past, stars have seen enormous streaming increases as curious viewers do their research, including Dr. Dre, Rihanna, and even Spongebob Squarepants. So, even if Usher didn’t get paid, it’s still extremely worth it, as those streaming bumps can result in big payouts when those royalty checks roll in. The Super Bowl is one time that getting paid in exposure is worth just as much as a check.
Usher has been a premier showman for decades now, so it’s not surprising that he put on quite the performance for his Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show yesterday (February 11). Some surprises, though, came via the guests that Usher recruited to join him on the field. So, let’s run through who Usher performed alongside for his big moment (aside from the hundreds and dancers and backing musicians who were also involved).
Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show: Alicia Keys
Usher started off solo, performing at least portions of “Caught Up,” “U Don’t Have To Call,” “Superstar,” and “Love In This Club.” Then, Alicia Keys emerged as the first guest, playing piano as she and Usher sang “If I Ain’t Got You” before transitioning into their chart-topping 2004 duet “My Boo.”
Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show: Jermaine Dupri
Next was “Confessions Part II,” which featured an introduction from Jermaine Dupri.
Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show: HER
Usher ran through “Nice & Slow” and “Burn” by himself before HER played guitar (and absolutely shredded) on “U Got It Bad” and “Bad Girl.”
Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show: will.i.am
Immediately after HER was will.i.am’s turn, who emerged for a quick portion of “OMG,” his and Usher’s No. 1 hit from 2010.
Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show: Lil Jon
Then it was onto Lil Jon, whose distinctive gravely yell introduced a snippet of his and DJ Snake’s “Turn Down For What.”
Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show: Ludacris
Lil Jon stuck around for the next song as the performance headed into the finale. “Turn Down For What” transitioned into “Yeah!,” so naturally, this was Ludacris’ turn to pop up.
Killer Mike, E 40, Diplo, Hit-Boy and Big Hit join Apple Music 1 live from Las Vegas to talk about all things USHER and Super Bowl.
In a wide-ranging conversation, Killer Mike talks about his recent GRAMMY wins, the support he’s received from his peers, his admiration for Big Boi, his circuitous route to success, his advice for the younger generation, and how he wants his next album to be his best yet.
When speaking on Usher and celebrating Atlanta, the Grammy Award winner said, “I’m proud. In Atlanta, we proud of each other. Like Usher hit me, Jeezy hit me, Tip hit me…congratulating me. And I’m the same way. Whether it was his residency or the Super Bowl halftime or the tour afterwards, my wifey danced with him. Dance, dance damn it. Dance with him.”
He went on to say, “I’m happy because Atlanta is a city where it celebrates culture and creativity. It especially celebrates Black culture and creativity. So if you want opportunity, man, it’s a great place to be because people going to be cheering for you. It doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy, doesn’t mean it’s not a journey. But you’re going to have some people cheering for you.”
Then, Diplo drops by the studio to talk about working with USHER on the newly-Platinum record “Climax,” his experience with Apple Vision Pro, the Las Vegas musical landscape, and how maintaining a balanced lifestyle helped him to not burn out during his aggressive touring years.
Hit-Boy and his father Big Hit stop into the studio to talk about what it’s been like to work together since Big Hit’s recent release from prison, and Bay area legend E 40 discusses his love for the 49ers, recognizing Kendrick Lamar’s talent when he was just starting out, what Hip Hop 50 means to him, and USHER’s talent.
The Usher moment we all have waited on delivered. The R&B icon took the Super Bowl LVIII stage, bringing in Alicia Keys, H.E.R., Jermaine Dupri, Ludacris, Lil Jon, and Will.i.am. for guest appearances.
During his set, Usher performed everything from “Caught Up” to “Love in This Club” to “U Got It Bad” during his 15-minute set. Also present were men of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and the Good Time Brass Band.
So far, Super Bowl LVIII hasn’t been a note. Most of the action has come from the evening’s entertainment starting with Post Malone’s rendition of “America The Beautiful.” But let’s be real: everyone was really tuned in for Usher’s highly anticipated halftime performance.
Given how many details were leaked, including Alicia Keys’ cameo, not much was left to the imagination. However, Usher still managed to deliver a notable set (and yes, it did feature his love of roller skating). Throughout the performance starring guest cameos from HER, Lil Jon, and Ludacris, Usher jumped across his multiple decade-long career. He even squeezed in some of the biggest hits of others on the stage.
Continue below to view Usher’s full setlist for the Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show.
Usher’s Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show Setlist
1. “Caught Up”
2. “U Don’t Have To Call”
3. “Superstar”
4. “Love In This Club”
5. “If I Ain’t Got You” With Alicia Keys
6. “My Boo” With Alicia Keys
7. “Confessions Part II” With Jermaine Dupri
8. “Nice & Slow”
9. “Burn”
10. “U Got It Bad” With HER
11. “Bad Girl” With HER
12. “OMG” With Will.I.Am
13. “Turn Down for What” With Lil Jon
14. “Yeah” With Lil Jon & Ludacris
Watch the full performance presented by Apple Music below.
It feels a bit ridiculous to even type these words, but going into Usher’s Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show performance, there was a certain amount of skepticism about whether he was a “Super Bowl caliber” artist from some fans (you can probably guess which ones). Of course, once the veteran hitmaker hit the stage, he obliterated all doubts about his worthiness for the moment, reminding those fans that he’s got 25+ years of pop-R&B excellence under his belt.
The results of Usher’s preparations were on full display as he performed pop culture mainstays like “Caught Up,” “U Don’t Have To Call,” and “Superstar” over the course of the 15-minute set. After coming out to “Caught Up” flanked by dancers dressed in Roaring ’20s regalia, he ran through a progression of 2000s hits before bringing out Alicia Keys for a rendition of their duet “My Boo.” Usher then launched into a retrospective of his slow-burners like “Nice & Slow” and “U Got It Bad.” Naturally, he came out of his shirt during the latter. H.E.R. joined him onstage to play the guitar solo, he broke out the roller skates for a breakdown, and Lil Jon played part of “Shots” before they went into everybody’s favorite Usher song, “Yeah,” joined (of course) by Ludacris.
Usher, Alicia Keys, H. E. R., Lil Jon, and Ludacris.
And just in case the performance itself wasn’t enough to turn those fans‘ expectations around, the inevitable streaming bump that’s sure to follow certainly should. After last year’s performance, Rihanna topped the streaming charts. The year before, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s 1999 hit “Still D.R.E.” reached over a billion views on YouTube, and in 2019, even the meme-baiting stunt performance of Spongebob Squarepants‘ “Sweet Victory” prompted a 500% increase in streams for the cartoon’s soundtrack.
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