Who is the Super Bowl 58 halftime show performer? What to know about this year's show
Usher ended his sold-out Las Vegas residency in December after 100 shows, but if you missed the "King of R&B" in Sin City, don't fret. He will be back in Las Vegas for his largest gig ever, one that will be broadcast to hundreds of millions of viewers.
The 44-year-old singer/songwriter is set to headline the Super Bowl 58 halftime show, presented by Apple Music, at Allegiant Stadium on Feb. 11 in Las Vegas, which he called his "new home."
In September, Usher called it "an honor of a lifetime to finally check a Super Bowl performance off my bucket list" after he was announced as the halftime performer. "I can't wait to bring the world a show unlike anything else they've seen from me before," he added.
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SUPER BOWL 2024: What fans should know about date, time, halftime performer
Here's everything you need to know about the latest Super Bowl halftime performer:
Who is performing at the Super Bowl 2024?
Although the Super Bowl matchup is not yet set as the NFL playoffs prepare to get underway, the musical act at the big game is: "They call me U-S-H-E-R, R-A-Y-M-O-N-D," as he sings in 1998's "Nice & Slow."
Who is Usher?
Usher, 45, is an eight-time Grammy winner who has released eight studio albums, including his chart-topping 2004 album "Confessions," which has sold over 15 million copies worldwide and is the best-selling R&B album of the 21st century by a male artist. "Confessions" celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.
He's topped the Billboard Hot 100chart nine times in his career: "Nice & Slow" (1998); "U Remind Me" (2001); "U Got It Bad" (2001); "Yeah!" featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris (2004); "Burn" (2004); "Confessions Part II" (2004), which Rolling Stone dubbed the No. 1 Greatest R&B Songs of the 21st Century; "My Boo" featuring Alicia Keys (2004); "Love in This Club" featuring Young Jeezy (2008); and "OMG" featuring will.i.am (2010).
Usher announced his ninth studio album "Coming Home" will be released the same day as the Super Bowl. He described his upcoming album as a "love letter … to the legacy of my career."
USHER. LAS VEGAS. APPLE MUSIC HALFTIME SHOW. #SBLVIII https://t.co/5dpaPOcMAG@Usher, @kimkardashian, @nfl, @applemusic, @nfloncbs pic.twitter.com/Ctp06UzSTE
— Roc Nation (@RocNation) September 24, 2023
What songs will Usher perform at Super Bowl 2024?
Although there's sure to be many prop bets on which songs Usher performs, his setlist likely won't be revealed until he hits the big stage. But Usher did say that he's looking to make the most out of his limited time on the "most grand stage to ever play on." (A regular NFL halftime normally lasts 13 minutes, but a Super Bowl halftime lasts longer to accommodate for the show, setup and take-down, in addition to teams' on-field warmups.)
"Don’t take the moments for granted because you only get 13 of them," Usher said in November. "The hardest part is trying to figure out how to squeeze it all in when you actually have a large catalog, or a lot of records people celebrate and love."
Usher hasn't confirmed whether or not he will bring out any special guests, but he did say, "I’ve collaborated with a lot of incredible artists over the years. If anything I like to socially engage the world."
LAS VEGAS. APPLE MUSIC HALFTIME SHOW. #SBLVIII
———@nfl, @rocnation, @nfloncbs pic.twitter.com/kezBpyabAD— Usher Raymond IV (@Usher) September 24, 2023
Rihanna, Jay Z offer Usher praise
Rihanna brought down the Super Bowl 57 halftime show in Glendale, Ariz. last year, where she revealed her second pregnancy. When asked if she had any advice for Usher, Rihanna emphatically responded, "(Expletive) no." She added, "Usher is a natural, he’s a legend, he’s been doing this since he’s a teenager. He is made for that show."
Jay-Z, who partnered with the NFL alongside his company Roc Nation in 2019 to advise the league on musical selections and social activism, described Usher as the "ultimate artist and showman."
"Ever since his debut at the age of 15, he's been charting his own unique course," Jay-Z added in a statement. "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."
It was Jay-Z who broke the news to Usher. He said Jay-Z told him, "It's time for you to have that moment … the Super Bowl."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Usher: Everything to know about the Super Bowl 58 halftime show artist