Usher’s path to the biggest stage of his career comes after more than three decades of experience and a stellar career in which he has demonstrated his talent as a singer, songwriter and dancer.
The eight-time Grammy winner took the stage for Sunday’s Super Bowl LVIII halftime show, which takes place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, pitting the Kansas City Chiefs against the San Francisco 49ers.
The 45-year-old R&B musician was putting on a grand showcase of his decades of hits, even as fellow music superstar Taylor Swift threatened to steal the spotlight from his celebrity-studded VIP box while cheering on her tight end boyfriend. the Chiefs, Travis Kelce. .
Usher opened the show on a high note with a super short snippet of his song Caught Up, from his 2004 hit album Confessions, followed by his hit Love In This Club.
It was previously reported that Alicia Keys would be joining Usher and she did not disappoint. The singer appeared in a sizzling red sequin jumpsuit to accompany her sinuous red piano.
Usher excavated 30 years of success while headlining Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. He was making his headlining debut after first joining the Black Eyed Peas at the show in 2011.
Usher, who teased the guest stars but remained tight-lipped about their identities, had to deal with the enormous interest generated by fellow singer Taylor Swift while cheering on her boyfriend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
It was previously reported that Alicia Keys would be joining Usher and she did not disappoint. The singer appeared in a sizzling red sequin jumpsuit to accompany her sinuous red piano.
Lil John and Ludacris were not far behind when they teamed up to accompany Usher on Yeah!, his 2004 mega-hit, and SHE accompanied him with her fast-paced guitar work.
With the massive stage in the middle of the final game of the NFL season, Usher follows in the footsteps of famous luminaries who previously headlined the halftime show, including the late Michael Jackson and Prince, as well as current superstars Rihanna, Beyoncé, Madonna , Lady Gaga and Dr. Dre.
Usher told reporters in Las Vegas on Thursday that he was looking to incorporate the past, present and future when he takes the stage in Sin City, according to the APwhile paying tribute to the host city, where he has held a residency, and Atlanta, where he established himself as a leading force in the music industry.
“It’s been a challenge to squeeze 30 years into 13 minutes,” Usher said of planning the abbreviated performance, adding that he asked himself, “What songs do people know me for, what songs have been a celebration of the entire journey? “
Usher, Justin Bieber’s mentor early in the superstar’s career, hinted Thursday that his show would feature guest appearances from artists he’s worked with in the past, as he said he’s “definitely had a lot of ideas” about who ‘Would have gone through this moment with’ him.
Usher himself was on stage for the halftime show, joining his OMG collaborator will.i.am (and the Black Eyed Peas) on stage in 2011 in Arlington, Texas, at Super Bowl XLV, and said who vividly remembered ‘how amazing it felt to be in front of so many people and feel the energy.’
“Funnily enough, there was one moment that I only seem to remember,” he said Thursday. ‘My hand got caught in the cable holding me 30 feet in the air and I almost missed my first target. I thought, “Oh my God. Don’t let this malfunction make me lose anything.”
Fans of the hitmaker will have the chance to see his behind-the-scenes preparations for the Super Bowl, as he revealed that Apple Music cameras have been following him in rehearsals and meetings to create the high-profile performance.
‘There has been a team of documentary filmmakers who have been compiling all the moments that happened. There are cameras around us at all times,” he shared at an Apple Music press conference on Thursday.
Previous Super Bowl performances included Reba McEntire’s performance of the Star-Spangled Banner, as well as an emotional rendition of Post Malone’s America The Beautiful, while Andra Day sang Lift Every Voice and Sing.
The song, which was composed in 1900, was the Black National Anthem more than a century ago.
Usher has released nine studio albums: 1994’s Usher, 1997’s My Way, 2001’s 8701, 2004’s Confessions, 2008’s Here I Stand, Raymond v. 2010’s Raymond, 2012’s Looking 4 Myself, 2016’s Hard II Love and this year’s Coming Home, which was released on Friday.
The Dallas native’s biggest professional success to date, both critically and commercially, came 20 years ago with the 2004 album Confessions, which spawned the hits Yeah!, Burn, Confessions Part II and My Boo, selling more than 10 million of units at the national level.
The album, which featured collaborations with Alicia Keys, Ludacris and Lil Jon, was a big winner at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards in 2005, when Usher took home three awards: Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (for Yeah! ), Best Contemporary R&B Album. (for Confessions) and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal (for My Boo).
The singer has achieved nine number one hits in the Billboard Hot 100 to date with Nice & Slow from 1998; You’ve Got It Bad and You’ve Got It Bad, from 2001; From 2004’s Yes!, Burn, Confessions Part II and My Boo; Love in This Club from 2008 and OMG from 2010.
Fans of the hitmaker will have the chance to see his behind-the-scenes preparations for the Super Bowl, as he revealed that Apple Music cameras have been following him in rehearsals and meetings to create the high-profile performance. The artist, 45, was photographed in Las Vegas on Thursday.
The eight-time Grammy winner is preparing to take the stage for Sunday’s Super Bowl halftime show, which will take place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, pitting the Kansas City Chiefs against the San Francisco 49ers.
In his personal life, the R&B classic, whose full name is Usher Raymond IV, has been married twice: to Tameka Foster, 53, from 2007 to 2009; and Grace Harry from 2015 to 2018.
He is the father of four children: Usher ‘Cinco’ Raymond V, 16, and Naviyd Ely, 15, with Foster; and his three-year-old daughter Sovereign Bo, and his two-year-old son Sire Castrello, with his girlfriend Jenn Goicoechea, 40.
Following the halftime show, Usher’s focus will be on his 24-city North American tour titled Past Present Future, which kicks off August 20 at the Capital One Arena in Washington DC.
It is scheduled to conclude on October 29 at the United Center in Chicago. The tour will also include stops in major cities including New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami and Toronto.