Usher’s performance at Apple Music’s Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show on Sunday (Feb. 11) was one for the books.
The eight-time Grammy winner took center stage at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, to treat the audience and viewers to a career-spanning set.
He kicked off his exhilarating 13-minute show with “Caught Up” from his Confessions album. He then performed hits and fan-favorites such as “U Don’t Have to Call,” “Superstar” and “Love in the Club, Part 1.”
Fellow R&B legend Alicia Keys joined Usher on stage to perform their Grammy-winning duet “My Boo.”
Music mogul, producer and songwriter Jermaine Dupri appeared on stage to introduce “Confessions, Pt. 2.” Usher then performed other Dupri-helmed hits such as “Nice & Slow,” “Burn” and “U Got It Bad.”
R&B star H.E.R. made a surprise performance to deliver a rousing guitar solo for the latter track.
It wouldn’t be an Usher show without skates. After a quick costume change, he rolled on stage to perform his 8x platinum hit “OMG” with will.i.am.
Usher closed out his electrifying set with his 13x platinum hit “Yeah,” which included a cameo from the featured artists Lil Jon and Ludacris.
Usher was announced as the headliner in September 2023. He is the second artist, following Rihanna, to perform under Apple Music’s new partnership with the NFL and Roc Nation.
“It’s an honor of a lifetime to finally check a Super Bowl performance off my bucket list. I can’t wait to bring the world a show unlike anything else they’ve seen from me before,” Usher previously stated. “Thank you to the fans and everyone who made this opportunity happen. I’ll see you real soon.”
Jay-Z, founder of Roc Nation, said, “Usher is the ultimate artist and showman. Ever since his debut at the age of 15, he’s been charting his own unique course. Beyond his flawless singing and exceptional choreography, Usher bares his soul. His remarkable journey has propelled him to one of the grandest stages in the world. I can’t wait to see the magic.”
While there simply wasn’t enough time to squeeze in Usher’s 30 years of work, fans can enjoy a fuller set on his upcoming Past Present Future Tour.
The North American leg kicks off Aug. 20 at Capitol One Arena in Washington, D.C., and concludes Oct. 31 at United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Tickets go on sale to the general public Monday (Feb. 12) at 10 a.m. local time.
Ahead of Usher’s Super Bowl performance, the superstar received over 30 new RIAA certifications, including Confessions (14x platinum), “Yeah!” featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris (13x platinum), 8701 (5x platinum), and Here I Stand (2x platinum).
Last Friday (Feb. 9), Usher released his ninth album, Coming Home, via his mega imprint and Larry Jackson’s gamma. The 20-track album features The-Dream, H.E.R., Summer Walker, 21 Savage, Burna Boy, Pheelz and Jung Kook.
Walker and 21 Savage appear on the album’s lead single, “Good Good,” which spent five weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart. The Mel & Mus-produced track also was No. 1 on the R&B Digital Song Sales chart for three weeks.
“COMING HOME is an ode to going back to your roots, whatever or wherever that may be,” explained Usher. “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.”
Watch Usher’s Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show performance below.
