Usher

Post Malone Shed His Rigid Rockstar Persona For His Rendition Of ‘America The Beautiful’ At The Super Bowl

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Post Malone Super Bowl LVIII 2024 screengrab
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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.

“Wow, that’s awesome,” penned another.

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 Reportedly Part of Usher’s Super Bowl Halftime Show

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Alicia Keys

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.

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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.

READ MORE: Usher Provides Remembers Supporters on Road to Super Bowl Performance

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.

READ MORE: Usher Releases Afrobeats & Amapiano-Inspired Single “Ruin”

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.

Aug 20 | Washington, DC | Capital One Arena

Aug 24 | Baltimore, MD | CFG Bank Arena

Aug 27 | Boston, MA | TD Garden

Aug 30 | Philadelphia, PA | Wells Fargo Center

Sep 2 | Toronto, ON | Scotiabank Arena

Sep 3 | Toronto, ON | Scotiabank Arena

Sep 6 | Brooklyn, NY | Barclays Center

Sep 7 | Brooklyn, NY | Barclays Center

Sep 12 | Detroit, MI | Little Caesars Arena

Sep 17 | Denver, CO | Ball Arena

Sep 21 | Los Angeles, CA | Intuit Dome

Sep 22 | Los Angeles, CA | Intuit Dome

Sep 28 | Oakland, CA | Oakland Arena

Sep 29 | Oakland, CA | Oakland Arena

Oct 4 | Dallas, TX | American Airlines Center

Oct 7 | Austin, TX | Moody Center ATX

Oct 11 | Miami, FL | Kaseya Center

Oct 12 | Miami, FL | Kaseya Center

Oct 17 | Atlanta, GA | State Farm Arena

Oct 18 | Atlanta, GA | State Farm Arena

Oct 22 | Charlotte, NC | Spectrum Center

Oct 26 | St. Louis, MO | Enterprise Center

Oct 28 | Chicago, IL | United Center

Oct 29 | Chicago, IL | United Center

The post Alicia Keys Reportedly Part of Usher’s Super Bowl Halftime Show first appeared on The Source.

The post Alicia Keys Reportedly Part of Usher’s Super Bowl Halftime Show appeared first on The Source.

Usher Will Show Off His Roller Skating Skills During His Super Bowl Halftime Show This Weekend

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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.

If Usher is Going to Do Anything, It’s Perform: Super Bowl Setlist Analysis

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Usher Apple Photo

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. 

READ MORE: Usher Drops Highly Anticipated Album ‘COMING HOME’

Which song will Usher sing first?

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. 

READ MORE: Usher Speaks on State of R&B: ‘Whoever said R&B is Dead Sounds Crazy’

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. 

READ MORE: Usher Announces Nationwide ‘Usher: Past Present Future’ Tour

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. 

READ MORE: Usher Releases Afrobeats & Amapiano-Inspired Single “Ruin”

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.”

The post If Usher is Going to Do Anything, It’s Perform: Super Bowl Setlist Analysis first appeared on The Source.

The post If Usher is Going to Do Anything, It’s Perform: Super Bowl Setlist Analysis appeared first on The Source.

Alicia Keys Is Reportedly Joining Usher, Her ‘My Boo’ Collaborator, For The 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show

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Will Ludacris perform with Usher at the 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show this weekend? What about Justin Bieber? We don’t know for sure about either of them yet, but speculation has been flying. Now, we have our first report that claims to confirm a guest is joining in on the fun.

According to a report from TMZ, Alicia Keys is set to join Usher during his big performance this weekend, on February 11. The publication notes, “Sources close to the production confirm eyewitness accounts that AK rehearsed with Usher inside Allegiant Stadium on Thursday.”

This follows a February 8 tweet from Las Vegas Locally, a popular X (formerly Twitter) account that covers Vegas-related news, that said, “Lil Jon, Alicia Keys, and Usher are at Allegiant Stadium practicing their Super Bowl performances.” So, if that tweet is accurate, Lil Jon is involved, too, not just Keys.

Keys and Usher, of course, collaborated on “My Boo,” which was a No. 1 hit in 2004. So, presumably, the song made Usher’s Super Bowl setlist. Usher and Jon, meanwhile, linked up (along with Ludacris) on “Yeah!,” another No. 1 single from 2004, so it appears we can expect to hear that classic song in Las Vegas, too.

Learn more about how to watch Usher’s (and Keys’, it looks like) performance here.

Lil Wayne Really, Really Wants To Play The Super Bowl Halftime Show In 2025 For A Sentimental Reason

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It seems that the days of musicians rejecting the NFL’s Super Bowl Halftime show slot are long over. Thanks to the co-sign of Jay-Z, the league has been able to secure some of the industry’s biggest acts in recent years. As the recently dubbed King Of Vegas, Usher was the only logical headliner for Super Bowl LVIII’s show.

But for the 2025 show in New Orleans, there’s one person who just leapfrogged to the front of folk’s minds. Yesterday (February 8), Hollygrove representative Lil Wayne put his bid in to play the coveted concert. During a chat with YG and Stevie on their 4HUNNID podcast, Lil Wayne not only expressed interest but lamented that he hasn’t even been contacted yet to begin talks.

“I will not lie to you, I have not got a call or nothing,” he said. “But we are praying. We praying. We keeping our fingers crossed. I’m working hard. I’mma make sure this next album and everything I do is killer. I wanna just make it hard for them not to holler at the boy.”

Lil Wayne is an avid sports fantic (even a part-time commentator), hometown hero, and rap superstar, so why not? It’ll be a good while before an act is secured for the 2025 Super Bowl, but as Lil Wayne implied, it’s best to put your bid in early.

Super Bowl LVIII will air on CBS starting at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT on Sunday, February 11. Find more information here.

Will Justin Bieber Perform With Usher At The 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show?

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Usher played a major role in Justin Bieber’s career, as he served as a mentor to the eventual global pop sensation when Bieber was just a kid with a dream. So, with Usher’s Super Bowl Halftime Show coming up this weekend, people can’t help but wonder:

Will Justin Bieber Perform With Usher At The Super Bowl Halftime Show?

We don’t know for sure yet, and we might not until the performance is actually underway. But, it looks like Usher has at least put in the ask.

According to TMZ, Usher reached out to Bieber directly (meaning no “my people will call your people” situation, just two music superstars talking 1-on-1) and asked him to join him. TMZ’s sources didn’t know how that conversation ended up going.

Meanwhile, a previous Daily Mail report from October 2023 said, “[Usher] really wants to prove himself worthy of such an honor because he definitely sees that the excitement level for him doing it is not at an all-time high. He has asked some of his friends who are artists to help him out and join him on stage, and he has thrown a few ideas towards Justin.”

That report also noted Bieber “is leaning towards letting Usher do his thing and Justin would rather have the opportunity to do the Super Bowl on his own in the future if he were to be asked.”

That was months ago, though, so it’s possible Bieber has changed his mind since then (or that the report wasn’t accurate to begin with). He canceled his world tour in 2023 due to health issues, but he did just perform during NHL All-Star Weekend. So, who knows?

How Long Is Usher’s Super Bowl Halftime Show Performance?

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Usher Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show Press Conference 2024
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This weekend will feature one of the biggest days of Usher’s career, when he takes the field at Super Bowl LVIII for the halftime show. Usher has a number of hits spread throughout his storied career, but he’ll likely have to pass over some of them given the time restraints of the performance. Just how much time will Usher have, though?

How Long Is Usher’s Super Bowl Halftime Show Performance?

Usually, performers are given 13 minutes for their halftime shows. Usher, however, said in a recent Entertainment Tonight interview that he managed to get 15 minutes. He said, “I can’t explain why, but it’s a funny thing that I was able to do and craft. That was a huge strategic thing that happened between me and my agency.”

In the same conversation, he explained that Rihanna’s Super Bowl performance from 2023 was a big inspiration for his, saying, “Rihanna’s was fire because of the choreography and the way they did something that felt like a concert. It actually was a great deal of inspiration [for] how I began to think of my show. If you ever came to my residency, it was all about being immersed — being immersed in an experience that is all of these things that wouldn’t necessarily go together.”

Usher Cites Rihanna’s Beloved Super Bowl Halftime Show As An ‘Inspiration’ For His Own (Minus The Pregnancy Reveal, Probably)

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Usher Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show Press Conference 2024
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One thing we won’t know about Usher’s Super Bowl Halftime Show performance this weekend until it actually happens is what it will look like. Before then, though, Usher at least offered a bit of insight into the thought process behind his show.

In a recent Entertainment Weekly interview, Usher said:

“Rihanna’s was fire because of the choreography and the way they did something that felt like a concert. It actually was a great deal of inspiration [for] how I began to think of my show. If you ever came to my residency, it was all about being immersed — being immersed in an experience that is all of these things that wouldn’t necessarily go together.”

This presumably doesn’t mean Usher will reveal he’s pregnant, like Rihanna did during her 2023 performance.

He also noted that his performance will be 15 minutes long instead of the usual 13, saying, “I can’t explain why, but it’s a funny thing that I was able to do and craft. That was a huge strategic thing that happened between me and my agency.”

Usher also noted, “I would hope that people would feel excited — whether they knew my music or they just got to meet me for the first time — and that I’m all passion, man. And that this 8-year-old, who now is a 45-year-old, feels just as free as the first time that I thought any of this could be possible.”

Learn more about how to watch Usher’s performance here.

[WATCH] Usher’s Interview For The Super Bowl LVIII Apple Music Halftime Show Press Conference, Premieres New Film

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Today, global superstar USHER joined Apple Music Radio host Nadeska Alexis for the official Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show Press Conference in Las Vegas.

During the conversation USHER reflected on his 30-year career, taking the stage as the first independent artist to headline the Super Bowl, a scary moment from his 2011 Super Bowl cameo, his special relationship with the city of Las Vegas (future hotelier?), why his roller skates will be front and center this Sunday, and why he regrets never getting ‘slimed’ on Nickelodeon.

This morning, Apple Music also unveiled the short film Where’s USHER? The film, scored to 14 of USHER’s hits, showcases a wild journey through Las Vegas as Ludacris, Taraji P. Henson, Lil Jon, Wesley Snipes, J Balvin, Anderson .Paak, and a truly incredible cast of characters “lose” USHER after an epic Vegas night out and work together to find the King of R&B in time for his career-defining performance at the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show.

The post [WATCH] Usher’s Interview For The Super Bowl LVIII Apple Music Halftime Show Press Conference, Premieres New Film first appeared on The Source.

The post [WATCH] Usher’s Interview For The Super Bowl LVIII Apple Music Halftime Show Press Conference, Premieres New Film appeared first on The Source.