Usher Shows Off Decades of Hits at Super Bowl Halftime Show (2024)

×

Skip to main content

Rollingstone Logo

Got A Tip?

Account

Welcome

Manage Account

Manage Print Account

Sign Out

Log InSubscribe

Super Bowl 2024

R&B star makes triumphant return with a bevy of his musician friends following his brief 2011 halftime appearance

By

Ethan Millman, Althea Legaspi

Usher Shows Off Decades of Hits at Super Bowl Halftime Show (1)

Usher headlined Super Bowl LVIII’s halftime show at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sunday with a career-spanning performance featuring some of the biggest contemporary R&B hits of the past 20-plus years.

Usher kicked off the electrifying set with “Caught Up” while a bevy of dancers and others performed gymnastics and turned the field into a dance party. The set included several surprise guests, among them Alicia Keys, who joined him at a red piano, where they duetted “If I Ain’t Got You” and then they transitioned the medley into “My Boo.”

His performance also segued into his ballads, which included “My Confessions, Pt. II,” and “U Got It Bad,” where he performed shirtless as a band backed him that included H.E.R on guitar.

The stage soon transformed into a roller skating rink. Lil Jon showed up to perform “Turn Down For What” before Usher launched into his iconic “Yeah!,” which also features Lil Jon. The finale featured an entourage of backing musicians scattered throughout the field and stage and included a massive horn section as Ludacris also dropped his verse from Usher’s massive hit.

Usher is very familiar with Vegas performances at this point as his halftime set comes just two months after he ended his 100-show My Way residency last December. The singer capitalized on the hype of the show earlier this week, releasing his ninth album Coming Home on Friday.

Trending

Jellyroll vs. Jelly Roll: Pennsylvania Band Sues Country Star for Trademark Infringement
Inside Jimmy Buffett's Tribute Concert: McCartney, Margaritas, and One Hell of a Parrothead Party
Lana Del Rey Brings Romantic Hits —and Billie Eilish — to Enchanting Coachella Set
Rico Wade, Producer With Atlanta's Pioneering Organized Noize, Dead at 52

While 2024 marked Usher’s Super Bowl headlining debut, it’s not the first time he’s played the event. That came in 2011, when he briefly appeared during the Black Eyed Peas’ infamous halftime set, descending into AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas to perform “OMG,” his 2010 collab with Will.i.am.

Usher hinted at a star-studded guest list for half time earlier this week. He teased the performance with a short film featuring Ludacris, Lil Jon, Taraji P. Henson, Apple CEO Tim Cook, J Balvin, and Anderson .Paak among several others all in a race against the clock search for the singer in Vegas before his halftime show.

More News

  • See Hurray for the Riff Raff Play 'The Past Is Still Alive' Tracks for 'Saturday Sessions'

    • Saturday Sessions
    • By

      Daniel Kreps

  • Watch Bruce Springsteen Play 'Seeds' For First Time Since 2016 at Mohegan Sun Arena

    • Viva Uncasville!
    • By

      Andy Greene

  • ‘The Celebration of Mimi': Inside Mariah Carey’s Career-Spanning Las Vegas Comeback

    • it's like that
    • By

      Larisha Paul

  • Rico Wade, Producer With Atlanta's Pioneering Organized Noize, Dead at 52

    • Obituary
    • By

      Daniel Kreps

  • Lana Del Rey's Opulence, Peso Pluma's Corrido History Lesson Shine at Coachella Day One

    • Coachella 2024
    • By

      Tomás Mier and Ethan Millman

Read more

Most Popular

ad

Usher Shows Off Decades of Hits at Super Bowl Halftime Show (2024)

FAQs

How was Usher's halftime show rated? ›

Super Bowl LVIII: Event Producers Give Usher's Halftime Show a B+

What performer had the highest viewed Super Bowl halftime show? ›

Rihanna. Rihanna performs during Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show at State Farm Stadium on Feb. 12, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. With 121 million viewers, Rihanna's 2023 performance during Super Bowl LVII is the most-watched halftime show in history.

What was the best halftime show in Super Bowl history? ›

Best Super Bowl halftime shows
  1. Shakira + Jennifer Lopez (2020) The first Latina duo to headline a Super Bowl halftime show was quite the spectacle. ...
  2. Prince (2007) ...
  3. U2 (2002) ...
  4. Michael Jackson (1993) ...
  5. Usher (2024) ...
  6. 'N Sync + Aerosmith with Britney Spears, Mary J.
Feb 12, 2024

How many songs did Usher sing at the Super Bowl? ›

11 for the Super Bowl halftime show at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas for a 13-minute performance.

Who performed the worst halftime show? ›

Five worst Super Bowl halftime shows in NFL history
  1. Maroon 5 (2019)
  2. The Black Eyed Peas (2011) ...
  3. The Blues Brothers (1997) ...
  4. Phil Collins, Enrique Iglesias, Christina Aguilera, Toni Braxton, Tina Turner (2000) ...
  5. New Kids on the Block (1991) On this day in 1991, we performed during the Super Bowl Halftime Show! ...
Feb 11, 2024

How much did Usher get paid for the Super Bowl? ›

That's right, for free. That's because the Super Bowl performers don't really get paid by the NFL to perform. None of the performers that performed before and during the big game — Usher, Reba McEntire, Post Malone and Andra Day — took home a salary for the day's work.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Dr. Pierre Goyette

Last Updated:

Views: 5883

Rating: 5 / 5 (50 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Dr. Pierre Goyette

Birthday: 1998-01-29

Address: Apt. 611 3357 Yong Plain, West Audra, IL 70053

Phone: +5819954278378

Job: Construction Director

Hobby: Embroidery, Creative writing, Shopping, Driving, Stand-up comedy, Coffee roasting, Scrapbooking

Introduction: My name is Dr. Pierre Goyette, I am a enchanting, powerful, jolly, rich, graceful, colorful, zany person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.