Usher will headline the Super Bowl LVIII halftime show in Las Vegas on Feb. 11, 2024, it was announced by Apple Music and the NFL on Sunday.
Usher, 44, has eight Grammy awards, four No. 1 albums, and nine Billboard No. 1 hits — including “U Got It Bad,” “U Don’t Have to Call,” and “Nice & Slow.”
But he will have to follow up what the NFL reported as the most watched Super Bowl halftime show of all time last year. During the set, Rihanna showcased her second pregnancy for nearly 120 million people. According to TMZ, the Federal Communications Commission received over 100 complaints after the big game, many claiming Rihanna’s performance was “overtly sexual.”
“It’s an honor of a lifetime to finally check a Super Bowl performance off my bucket list,” Usher said in a press statement from the NFL in which he seems to have forgotten that he also performed in 2011 at Super Bowl XLV — though that was only to perform his song “OMG” during the Black Eyed Peas’ headlining set.
“I can’t wait to bring the world a show unlike anything else they’ve seen from me before,” Usher continued. “Thank you to the fans and everyone who made this opportunity happen. I’ll see you real soon.”
Long Shot
As of last month, Usher — who has had a Las Vegas residency since 2021 — wasn’t even on the short list of halftime headliner favorites published by FanDuel, which had Miley Cyrus first at +300, followed by Harry Styles at +600, and then Puerto Richan superstar (and previous Super Bowl performer) Bad Bunny at +900.
Taylor Swift, who also sold out Allegiant Stadium twice in March 2023, reportedly turned the opportunity down but was still shortlisted at +900.
“She wants to be a part of the show at some point and is leaning towards doing it in a few years, especially if the Super Bowl is in Nashville,” the Daily Mail reported being told by an unnamed source close to the NFL last month.
Fake News
Apple music tweeted out the news along with a humorous video co-starring Usher and Kim Kardashian. In the clip, Kardashian seems to break the news to her famous friend via an urgent call.
“No for real, don’t play like that,” Usher tells Kardashian, who then places a ticket request with the R&B singer.
“So it’ll be, like, me, my entire family, all my kids, maybe like five to ten friends,” Kardashian says.
“I’m gonna call you back,” Usher replies.
Kardashian’s contribution was filmed for the commercial. But Usher’s part came from the music video to his song, “Confessions Part II.” A similar video featuring former NFL star Deion Sanders was also shared by Apple Music.
The big game kicks off on Feb. 11, 2024 at Allegiant Stadium and will be aired on CBS-TV.
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