Usher

Swizz Beatz Isn’t Fazed By Alicia Keys & Usher’s Embrace During The Super Bowl Halftime Show Despite The Memes

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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.

Is Usher Married In 2024?

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Usher Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show 2024
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Usher is at the forefront of the music world right now after his Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show performance this weekend. With how comfortable he and Alicia Keys looked together on stage, some might be wondering:

Is Usher Married In 2024?

Actually, maybe!

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.”

Did Usher Get Paid For The Super Bowl Halftime Show In 2024?

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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.

Check out more of our Super Bowl coverage here.

Who Performed With Usher At The Super Bowl Halftime Show?

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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.

Revisit the full halftime show performance here.

Killer Mike, Diplo, E 40, Hit Boy And Big Hit Join Apple Music Live From Las Vegas To Talk All Things Super Bowl

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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 post Killer Mike, Diplo, E 40, Hit Boy And Big Hit Join Apple Music Live From Las Vegas To Talk All Things Super Bowl first appeared on The Source.

The post Killer Mike, Diplo, E 40, Hit Boy And Big Hit Join Apple Music Live From Las Vegas To Talk All Things Super Bowl appeared first on The Source.

WATCH: Usher Delivers Stellar Super Bowl Halftime Performance with Many Guest Appearances

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Usher Delivers Stellar Super Bowl Halftime Performance with Many Guest Appearances

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.

You can see the full performance below.

The post WATCH: Usher Delivers Stellar Super Bowl Halftime Performance with Many Guest Appearances first appeared on The Source.

The post WATCH: Usher Delivers Stellar Super Bowl Halftime Performance with Many Guest Appearances appeared first on The Source.

Here Is Usher’s Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show Setlist

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Usher Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show 2024
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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.

Usher’s Super Bowl Halftime Show Performance Got The Crowd ‘Caught Up’ On 25 Years Of Excellence

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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.

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.

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

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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 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.