How Usher’s Super Bowl halftime show was inspired by Michael Jackson

Thania Garcia After Justin Bieber delivered his first performance in a year for the 2024 NHL All-Star Game earlier this month, speculation that the Canadian superstar would be making a surprise appearance at Usher‘s Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show was high. Despite the excitement, that moment never came, and Usher has finally revealed why. Speaking with “The Breakfast Club,” Usher confirmed he reached out to Bieber — and pretty much “everybody” — but the singer declined.

Usher broke his silence on why his mentee and longtime collaborator Justin Bieber was not part of his star-studded halftime show at Super Bowl LVIII.“You know what, it didn’t work out with Justin,” Usher, 45, told the nationally syndicated radio show The Breakfast Club, which posted the interview on Instagram. “I honor and recognize that my brother … I think it might’ve been the fact that he was just wanting to tell a different story right now and I understand that.”Before the Super Bowl, there was buzz that Bieber would be a surprise guest during Usher’s halftime show since Usher helped to sign Bieber when he was a teenager, and the pair have collaborated before.But it wasn’t to be, as Usher welcomed guests including H.E.R., Alicia Keys, Lil Jon, Ludacris, Jermaine Dupri and Will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas — but no Bieber.“We did have a brief conversation [and] we’re gonna do something in the future,” Usher told The Breakfast Club.

Usher is opening up about Justin Bieber‘s decision to not join him on stage during the Halftime Show.

Turned down for what?Lil Jon revealed the reason Justin Bieber did not perform during Usher’s Super Bowl halftime show amidst fan speculation and anticipated that the “Baby” singer would join his longtime mentor and collaborator on stage. “We wanted to put Justin in the show, so we had the idea of doing a version of the show with Justin in it,” Lil Jon, who performed alongside Usher on Super Bowl Sunday, told TMZ on Wednesday.

Taylor Swift is literally at the top of the world. She’s won nearly every big award we can think of, performed all over the world, and has a legion of diehard fans. And yet, she’s NEVER — not once — done the Super Bowl halftime show! How is that possible?!

Thania Garcia Usher‘s Super Bowl Halftime performance earned gold stars for the R&B star’s suave — and seemingly tireless — delivery of his classic hits. Unfortunately, most (if not all) of the negative criticism of the show has been pointed at one of his special guests, Alicia Keys, who delivered a rendition of her 2003 hit, “If I Ain’t Got You.” Standing out in a glimmering red ensemble that ruffled out into an elongated cape, Keys began her performance by launching into a high soprano that briefly morphed into a croak as the cape dropped.

Alicia Keys, got with Usher during the latter’s star-studded Super Bowl 2024 halftime performance. “Y’all talking about the wrong damn thing,” Beatz, 45, wrote on Instagram after several viewers commented on how Usher, 45, hugged Keys, 43, from behind during the Las Vegas set.“Yall don’t see that amazing dress covering the entire stadium,” the rapper continued. “Tonight’s performance was nothing but amazing with 2 amazing Giants!”“Congrats @usher and my love @aliciakeys that song is a classic,” the record producer added, referring to the pair’s “My Boo” duet.“We don’t do negative vibes on this side we make history,” Beatz, born Kasseem Daoud Dean, concluded.

Usher headlined Super Bowl LVIII’s halftime show on Sunday night, bringing over two decades of R&B hits to the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The 15-minute performance featured a bevy of guest stars, with Alicia Keys joining the headliner for two songs: "If I Ain;t Got You" and "My Boo." "Caught Up" was the opening song of the halftime show with Usher backed by what seemed like an army of musicians and dancers.

Usher has paid tribute to the late drummer Aaron Spears during his Halftime show at the 2024 Super Bowl.The moment took place in Las Vegas last night (February 11), as the R&B star performed during the iconic Halftime show at the 58th instalment of the Super Bowl. Held at Allegiant Stadium, the event saw the San Francisco 49ers face off against defending champions the Kansas City Chiefs, with the latter ultimately taking the victory.During the show, Usher brought out a number of famous friends to join him as surprise guests, however, one frequent collaborator was missing from the night – his longtime drummer Aaron Spears.The musician – who also worked with the likes of Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber and more – died in October last year.

for a searing electric guitar solo . It was was not, as some brilliant minds on social media seemed to think, 10-year-old Kim and Kanye progeny .

Usher brought out Alicia Keys during his Super Bowl Halftime Show performance tonight (February 11) in Las Vegas.The 58th Super Bowl is taking place at the Allegiant Stadium tonight, with the San Francisco 49ers facing off against defending champions the Kansas City Chiefs.Keys appeared early on in the performance, taking to the stage first seated behind a red grand piano as a large piece of red fabric billowed behind her. She began by performing a clip of her own song ‘If I Ain’t Got You’ before Usher joined her to deliver a rendition of their 2004 collaboration ‘My Boo’.Throughout the set, Usher pulled largely from his album ‘Confessions’, which was also released in 2004 and from which ‘My Boo’ was taken.

halftime show on Sunday, February 11, welcomed a parade of famous friends to the stage including Alicia Keys, Lil John, and Ludacris to the stage in an epic medley of his many (many) hits.The show it self was predictably a sight to behold, complete with jeweled thrones, armies of backup dancers, costume changes, roller skates, and—at one point—a very shirtless Usher gyrating like only Usher can.As for Keys, she and Usher looked like the closest of friends during their sweet duet on “My Boo,” which came after she sang a bit of her hit "If I Ain’t Got You" at the piano wearing a bedazzled red catsuit. (Usher that someone special would be joining him on stage, and we can only assume that was Keys.)This content can also be viewed on the site it from.“It will definitely be an event,” he told in the lead-up to the big game.

Usher's Super Bowl halftime show was met with criticism from fans who were left disappointed by the sound quality. Despite efforts to rectify the situation, many agreed that the performance didn't improve until guest performer Alicia Keys joined him on stage. One social media user grumbled: "Who tf was on SOUND CHECK? Usher mic is not IT cmon now." Another added: "Girl this is a mess....The sound team f***d up bad....

With Taylor Swift in the 65,000 strong crowd at today’s Super Bowl in Las Vegas, Usher couldn’t have had any illusions about who had the greater star power and the media’s attention as he hit the field for the halftime show.

Usher made it clear that he wanted to pay homage to iconic Black artists when he took the stage for the 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show on Sunday (February 11), and we caught at least one reference to the late King of Pop – Michael Jackson.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Deaf artists Anjel Piñero, Shaheem Sanchez and Daniel Durant were set to perform ASL during this year’s Super Bowl — but viewers watching the CBS telecast may not have actually seen them on air. That’s according to Oscar winner and Deaf actor Marlee Matlin, who expressed her frustration with the network on social media. “I am absolutely SHOCKED at CBS for introducing the Deaf performers at today’s pregame #SuperBowl and then not showing even one second (or more) of their performance… as has been tradition for the last 30 years.

Anna Tingley If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. The Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers will go head to head in Super Bowl LVIII, which takes place on today, Feb. 11 at Las Vegas’s Allegiant Stadium.

Fans are gearing up for a big night of football, entertainment and music as Super Bowl LVIII game day is here. Although many viewers will have their eyes locked on their screens for the big game, a lot of fans also clamor for the Super Bowl’s big entertainment spectacle – the halftime show.The Super Bowl halftime show has seen massive stars over the years, and Usher will be the latest to headline in 2024. With over 50 years of Super Bowl halftime shows, many star-studded performances have shocked and bored fans.

The Super Bowl Halftime Show is one of the biggest stages an artist can book!

Usher has revealed a scary malfunction he experienced from the last time he played the Super Bowl Halftime Show.The singer last took to the stage as a surprise guest in 2011, when the Black Eyed Peas headlined the show. Usher made a grand appearance handing from a rope above the stadium to sing his collaboration with will.i.am, ‘OMG’.