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.
Lil Jon, Alicia Keys, and Usher are at Allegiant Stadium practicing their Super Bowl performances.
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.
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.
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.”
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.”
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.
“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.”
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.
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.
GRAMMY Award-winning artist Usher has unveiled his ninth studio album, COMING HOME, marking another milestone in his illustrious career. The album boasts collaborations with Burna Boy, Summer Walker, 21 Savage, Pheelz, Latto, H.E.R., and The-Dream, showcasing Usher’s versatility and enduring appeal in the music industry.
Released via mega, a music collective co-founded by Usher and L.A. Reid in partnership with gamma, COMING HOME is set to make waves in the music scene. gamma, an artist-first multimedia platform led by CEO Larry Jackson and President Ike Youssef, will exclusively distribute and market all music released by mega, further expanding Usher’s reach to fans worldwide.
Featuring hit singles like “Good Good” with 21 Savage and Summer Walker, which topped Billboard’s R&B Digital Song Sales Chart upon release, COMING HOME promises a dynamic listening experience. The album has already gained traction on various streaming platforms, including Spotify’s Are & Be and Apple Music’s R&B Now playlists.
“COMING HOME is an ode to going back to your roots, whatever or wherever that may be. I’m COMING HOME to where I’m comfortable in being exactly who I am right now. My hope is that you identify with the new album no matter where you are or what you’re going through, too”, states USHER.
“USHER’s latest album, COMING HOME, is a testament to his artistry and evolution as a musician. With each track, he invites listeners on a journey of self-discovery and reflection. USHER’s unparalleled talent shines through in every note, making COMING HOME a must-listen for fans old and new”, adds L.A. Reid.
“I am so proud of USHER not only as a world class entertainer, but also as someone that I’ve counted as a friend since we were teens. As a friend that has now fearlessly taken his career into his own hands,” said gamma. Co-Founder & CEO Larry Jackson. “With this new ninth studio album, he’s bravely unplugged from the matrix of the establishment and become one of the most powerful and important independent artists in the world. And doing it on his own terms. I have such deep admiration and respect for how he’s charting this chapter of his career, and all of us at gamma. could not be happier to count him as a partner as we work closely with mega to turbo charge this incredible moment at hand.”
To commemorate the album’s release, iHeartRadio will host a National World Premiere event featuring a 25-minute takeover across its network of Hip-Hop and R&B stations. Usher will share insights into the album’s creation process and the inspiration behind the music, offering fans an exclusive glimpse into the making of COMING HOME.
The road to Usher’s Super Bowl halftime performance continues. This time, Apple Music drops a new official film, Where’s Usher?, to promote the performance.
The film stars Lil Jon, Taraji P. Henson, and Ludacris. 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.
It has been Usher overload as his highly-anticipated Super Bowl halftime show inches closer to materializing. The celebrated singer is days away from belting out his best hits on the coveted stage, and fans expect several surprise guests to help boost the performance. With a career that stretches back decades, Usher has delivered favorites that have defined several eras of music. Whether he’s stealing hearts with smooth R&B jams or getting the party started with club bangers, he’s amassed ongoing success that artists can only beg for. Moreover, this performance sets Usher in the history books as the first and only independent artist, thus far, to grace the halftime stage.
To catapult the already-swirling madness surrounding the event, Apple Music stepped in. Today (February 8), Apple Music shared the short film Where’s USHER, which hosts a score of 14 of the Grammy winner’s biggest hits. The visual is bolstered by several familiar faces, including Ludacris, Taraji P. Henson, Anderson .Paak, J Balvin, Wesley Snipes, and—last but certainly not least—Lil Jon. The elite group is seen trying to find Usher after losing him following a wild night in Sin City.
Additionally, Usher sat down with Apple Music Radio host Nadeska Alexis for the official Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show Press Conference in Las Vegas. He looked cool as a cucumber as he spoke about his upcoming, immense performance, also recalling a frightening moment when he thought he was going to mess up when he took to the halftime stage in 2011. Read through a few highlights of the conversation below, including his remarks on expanding businesses in Las Vegas, not wanting to be confined as only an R&B artist, and his secret Nickelodeon “confession.”
On Setting Himself Up With Success & His Apple Feature
I think I made it easy for myself when I decided to have like, features on songs that became hit records. That gave me the greatest point of reference. But here’s what’s beautiful, is that Apple has been following me throughout this entire process. So, we’re in the process of figuring out how we’re going to share it with you, break the internet by that conversation. There’s also, too, a documentary crew that’s been collecting all of the moments that have happened. There’s cameras around us at all times, looking at the process that we went through. You get a chance to see from the first moment that I got the call all the way up to the moment that I walk off the stage. At least that’s the idea.
But I am definitely, you know, I went through a lot of ideas of who I would have share this moment with me. And I do feel like the people who are gonna share it deserve just as much recognition for what they do in their careers, whether we have collaborated together or whether they’ve had moments of their own.
On The Snafu In His 2011 Super Bowl Performance
Oh, man. Oddly enough there was a moment that only I think I remember. My hand got caught in the wire that was holding me, like, 30 feet in the air. And I almost missed my first mark. I was like, ‘Oh my god, don’t let this malfunction cause me to miss something.’ But, that was one [memoy]. The second was, afterward, how amazing it felt to be in front of that many people and feel the energy. So much so, that it made me really passionate about eventually getting this moment that I’m getting to have. But it was really fueled by being able to be just, in that moment with the Black Eyed Peas.
On His Pride In Debuting Coming Home Album & Super Bowl Performance As An Independent Artist
I launched that album as an independent artist. And I will be, up until this day, the only independent artist who’s ever performed the Super Bowl Halftime Show. So, this is a beginning, this is a new beginning to me.
Las Vegas has been amazing for me. Having 100 sold-out shows in a residency and to have the next one, the crescendo, which is the Super Bowl with Apple. It’s really, really, really given my time here in Las Vegas an incredible button at the end.
On Not Wanting To Be Confined To One Genre
It’s nice to be in any category, but not to be categorized is what I’ve always hoped. That R&B as a trade and as a style, as a genre, as an emotion, as a spirit, be it being found through gospel music, jazz, rhythm and blues, blues in R&B. That it created all these other genres of music. We don’t understand how relevant R&B has been to the development of the industry that we have, and the artists and the creatives that have been a part that, that they didn’t get recognized either. So, I’m happy that R&B gets the stage on Sunday. I’m happy that R&B and rhythm & blues and the matter of what it is, as song and dance performers, it gets the recognition that it deserves. I’m honored. But I don’t want to be categorized as just an R&B artist.
On Connecting With Audiences Through The History Of His Catalog
I’ve tried so many things my entire career, and I’ve just managed to be able to gather people who celebrate my music and celebrate my experiences. And maybe they tie it to theirs. Maybe they got married to a song. Or maybe they fell in love to a song, maybe they made love to a song, maybe they celebrated and laughed and had an incredible time. Or maybe they cried, maybe they hurt, maybe had a chance to be confident in a way that they didn’t have before they listened to that song. That’s what R&B has been to me. And I hope that the rest of the world can celebrate in the way I celebrate it.
I visualize in these next few years that there will be more opportunity to build here in Las Vegas. I love this city. You know, when I received the key, I started trying to open doors, trying to figure out ways to do more things that activate this immersive experience that I feel like I had for an underserved audience that want to have a certain experience, that enjoyed the curation of the world that I created when I was here in Las Vegas. Where does that lead me? I don’t know. Maybe it’s businesses, maybe it’s more shows, maybe it’s shows that I curate, maybe it’s festivals, like the Lovers and Friends festival. Or maybe it’s, you know, hotels. Maybe it’s a different idea and standard for an artist who came from this world and then created a business here in this town.
Usher Gives A “Confession,” But Not What People Expect
Can I give you a Usher confession? Specifically for Nickelodeon, right? We gonna keep it age-appropriate? Nah. It was always a dream of mine to be slimed as a kid. I watched it just like all of us in here. To get that green goop over my head was something that I really, I just wanted to be able to say I did. And by the time I finally made it to the Nickelodeon awards, they just didn’t do it anymore. I was like, ‘That sucks.’
(@LasVegasLocally) February 9, 2024
