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.
Everyone has their personal reasons for tuning into the Super Bowl LVIII. Of course, the avid football fanatics are locked in to see which franchise takes home the Vince Lombardi trophy. Music lovers couldn’t care less about the game. Most are dialed in for Usher’s highly anticipated Halftime Show performance.
But before that, a few notable musicians warmed the Las Vegas crowd up for its pre-game festivities. Post Malone dropped in for a gentle rendition of “America The Beautiful.” As a proud musical rockstar, Malone shed his rigid persona to bring forth the delicate essence of the hymn.
Of course, Malone added his creative touches to the traditional record, but he met the mark with his acoustic guitar in tow. Viewers at home took to X (formerly Twitter) to offer their glowing reviews of Malone’s performance.
“Ngl, that was actually better than I expected! A solid 7/10,” wrote one viewer.
Ngl, that was actually better than I expected! A solid 7/10
Before his set, Malone shared that he was fighting back nerves. “I’m very nervous,” he said. “But excited, I’m excited. It’s just fun and super epic to be able to go out there and sing a song so many beautiful artists have sang before on this stage.”
Rewatch Post Malone’s full performance below, courtesy of the NFL.
Alicia Keys will reportedly join Usher during the Super Bowl halftime performance. According to TMZ, eyewitnesses have seen Alicia Keys rehearsing with Usher inside Allegiant Stadium, signaling a performance of “My Boo.”
Additional rumored guests include Justin Bieber, Ludacris, and Lil Jon. Luda and Lil Jon are featured in an Apple Music film hyping the performance. Apple Music dropped the Where’s Usher? film earlier in the year.
In addition to the aforementioned hip-hop stars, Taraji P. Henson stars in the film. Also making cameos in the film are J Balvin, Anderson .Paak, Wesley Snipes, and more.
You can see it below.
Usher is hitting the road to celebrate his illustrious 30-year career and the release of his upcoming album Coming Home. Following the success of his Las Vegas residency, the global icon will embark on the Usher: Past Present Future tour, produced by Live Nation.
The 24-city tour kicks off on Aug. 20 at the Capital One Arena in Washington DC, with stops in major cities, including Brooklyn, Los Angeles, Toronto, and Atlanta, before concluding in Chicago on Oct. 29.
Tickets will be available starting with Citi and Verizon presales, offering exclusive access to cardmembers and Verizon customers. Additional presales will follow throughout the week, with general on-sale beginning on February 12 at 10 am local time on LiveNation.com.
Fans can also elevate their concert experience with VIP packages, including premium tickets, meet-and-greet opportunities with Usher, pre-show VIP lounges, and exclusive merchandise.
Usher’s tour promises to celebrate his iconic career, featuring his signature smooth R&B tracks and electrifying performances. With the anticipation building for his new album release, fans can expect an unforgettable experience at every show.
Usher is just a few days away from performing at the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in Las Vegas, and he is giving fans a glimpse of what to expect — including some fun tricks. As an early teaser, he mentioned that he would be recreating a roller skating sequence that played a role in his Vegas residency, which wrapped last year.
Roller skating plays a big role in Usher’s life. In 2022, he joined a bunch of celebrities including D-Nice, Q-Tip, Gayle King, Meek Mill, and more to help open the Flipper’s Roller Boogie Palace at NYC’s Rockefeller Center. Usher also serves as the company’s brand ambassador, and he performed “U Don’t Have To Call” as the headliner for the opening night party.
“When you think about skating, it’s not just rolling and the music. It’s also to what you wear. It’s how you feel,” he told Access Hollywood.
“Somewhere during the pandemic I had this bright idea to just go back to having fun, and that’s what this is,” Usher added. “I want to offer the same thing to people who come here to dance, and listen to music, have a few drinks, and just chill out or even get on skates and have a good time. Again, you might fall down but you get back up, but you have fun.”
As for other possibilities of what to expect, Usher might bring some surprise guests to the Super Bowl, including Justin Bieber, Alicia Keys, and more.
Since Usher announced himself as the Super Bowl LVIII halftime show headliner back in Sept. 2023, fans and followers alike have been trying to guess which hits the R&B star will take to the stage on Sunday night.
Of Usher’s eight, going on nine albums, 81 singles, and nine number-one singles, here’s what we think he will bring to the 2024 Apple Music Halftime Show.
Catching the ears of the over 100 million projected viewers and attendees is an easy feat when you have generational hits like “Yeah!,” “Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home),” and “DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love.” These recognizable hits are essential to electrify the crowd before taking us down memory lane. Even a sample take of “Peace up, A-Town down” would send the youngest fans into a frenzy to hear more of the star.
Undoubtedly, the legendary performer will make a grandiose entrance on one of his biggest nights. This is also not the first appearance that the star has made, dropping in (literally, he descended from the stadium ceiling) to perform “OMG” with the Black Eyed Peas in 2011. We’re taking the hint that it will be even more of a bang to start the show.
Which songs will Usher perform?
The show’s heart lies within the deep catalog of the king’s chart-topping R&B hits and club bangers. Mash-ups and small samples are often used during the show to speedily hit all the fan-favorite hits for an artist, a tactic that Usher is almost guaranteed to use to take his 30 years’ worth of music down to 12 to 14 minutes’ worth of a show. We’re looking at tracks including: “Burn,” “U Remind Me,” “Love In This Club,” “Confessions Part II,” and “U Don’t Have to Call.”
Usher is known for having a good time on-stage with hits like “Caught Up” and “I Don’t Mind.” A vocal highlight for the night could include a “Superstar” breakdown, a notch to the viral TikTok trend stemming from his NPR Tiny Desk appearance last year.
Let’s not forget Usher’s genre-bending hits in the EDM space, such as “OMG” and “Scream,” which are fair contenders for time on the setlist.
Which special guest(s) will he bring out?
It’s customary for a Super Bowl halftime headliner to bring out guests. While Usher does not need company on stage, he has a catalog of hard-hitting featured artists to call upon if he so chooses.
We might get an Alicia Keys appearance after her Grammy win last weekend. The duo share the Grammy award-winning ballad, ‘My Boo’, that could see some time on the stage or at least in a mash-up.
If Usher stays on a pop flavor for the night, his protege, Justin Bieber, could very well take the stage. Bieber recently came from a two-year performance hiatus over NHL All-Star Weekend in Canada.
The possibility of a Lil Jon appearance also has some weight. If performed without him, fans would miss his features on ‘Lovers and Friends’ and ‘Yeah!’. Lil Jon also has an album coming out on Feb. 16.
Usher and Chris Brown sharing the stage would not be a “New Flame,” as the two powerhouse performers could easily bring the stadium down with their shared songs and a possible touch of an afro beats selection.
Solo dolo might be the route Usher takes with this headlining performance, and we’re here for every view and angle he gives us for the night.
Which song will Usher sing last?
Depending on the journey that Usher takes us on in the short time he has, we are predicting a closing meant for the fans who have been rocking with him for over 30 years.
Usher’s “Love in This Club” are notes to end the night on. A rendition of “Climax,” special to the Super Bowl, could also dot the performance.
Many are pleased to know that this won’t be the last we see of Usher. He’s giving us a new album and a tour! Following the slated halftime performance and the momentum from the closing of his two-year My Way: The Las Vegas Residency run, the star has announced his 24-city tour, USHER: Past Present Future, kicking off in late August.
The tour will feature music from every era of his career, including songs from his ninth album, Coming Home. The album will debut on Feb 9., just days before his headliner performance.
How Do We Watch the Show?
The Super Bowl Halftime Show will be held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sunday, Feb. 11. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET, where the Kansas City Chiefs will take on the San Francisco 49ers live on CBS. We are excited to see how this R&B legend narrows down and dazzles on “the most grand stage.”
(@mmpadellan) 
