Thirty years have passed since Usher first emerged as a teenage sensation in R&B, and two decades since he lit up dance floors with the hit “Yeah” from the record Confessions, which moved a million copies in a single week. The artist has never been a stranger to big stages, having performed at the Super Bowl halftime show in 2011 as a guest of the Black Eyed Peas, sharing the spotlight with Slash, the guitarist from Guns N’ Roses. Yet this Sunday marks a new kind of milestone, a moment Jay-Z described as Usher’s magic hour when he was announced to perform at halftime in Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas. The anticipation is reminiscent of his high-profile collaborations during major moments, echoing the grand tradition of halftime shows that have featured icons like Michael Jackson, the Rolling Stones, Beyoncé, Prince, Lady Gaga, Jennifer López, and Shakira. “Those 13 minutes carry enormous weight”, Usher has said. He has long understood the gravity of stepping into a legacy act and the responsibility that comes with it.
With eight Grammys and close to 80 million albums sold, Usher has maintained a place in pop culture alongside enduring hits such as Without You with David Guetta and My Boo with Alicia Keys. It’s notable that his career peaked in the early 2000s, and his 2018 album A did not achieve the same commercial impact as his earlier work. In recent years, Usher has kept his presence strong through Las Vegas residencies, performing in Usher: My Way, The Las Vegas Residency, where he blends singing, high-energy dance routines, and even aerial and skating performances. In a Vogue interview, he hinted that the Super Bowl show would be a spectacular showcase with big costume changes and dynamic staging, paying homage to R&B legends and Las Vegas greats like Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. Influences from Michael Jackson and Prince are evident in his approach, shaping his stagecraft and musical choices.
Speculations about Taylor Swift
The halftime spectacle is designed as a festival of musical moments, often featuring high-profile collaborations or surprise appearances. Before the game, chatter swirled about the possibility of seeing Taylor Swift join Usher on stage, especially given high-profile ties to the league and to the broader pop ecosystem. While the field is crowded with potential guests, the show will lean on Usher’s expansive history of collaborations spanning artists from Pitbull to Rihanna, Enrique Iglesias, and even Swift herself, with early ties to Justin Bieber shaping the arc of his journey. There is a sense that Usher could curate a lineup that mirrors the wide artistry of his 30-year career, which has included collaborations with a broad roster of artists and moments that became defining chapters in contemporary pop and R&B. The conversation around a guest or two centers on chemistry, timing, and the vibe of a show designed to captivate a global audience.
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Usher has long been a staple of the industry, and his Las Vegas engagement positions him to deliver a triumphant moment in a city that thrives on spectacle. He is balancing his family life with his growing artistic footprint, including his ongoing involvement in a multi-year residency and a planned new album that he has described as a bridge between eras of his music. The timing aligns with his broader career strategy, which includes touring and brand collaborations that broaden his reach beyond the stage. As Usher prepares for this significant televised moment, he underscores a commitment to reinvigorating his sound while honoring the influences that shaped his signature style. His fans can expect choreography that is bold, costumes that push the visual envelope, and arrangements that honor both the current music climate and the classic soul and pop textures that first defined his path.