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Review: Usher shines at star-studded 2024 Super Bowl halftime show

Wedding bells ring after

Associated Press | 2/15/2024, 6 p.m.
Usher emerged at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium for the Super Bowl halftime show seated on a throne, joined by a …
Usher performs Sunday during halftime of Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. Photo by Associated Press

LOS ANGELES - Usher emerged at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium for the Super Bowl halftime show seated on a throne, joined by a marching band and a trove of Vegas performers — but stayed its center.

It was an immediate confirmation of his position as the ideal halftime performer: One with timeless, well-known hits, masterful choreography, and a devoted audience.

He started with “Caught Up,” moving into “U Don’t Have to Call,” “Superstar,” and “Love in the Club.”

Then Alicia Keys appeared in front of a bright red piano for her song “If I Ain’t Got You,” which morphed into “My Boo,” Usher losing a glove in an apparent tribute to Michael Jackson — notable for a performance during Black History Month.

Alicia Keys joined Usher as a surprise guest during the halftime show. She sang her song “If I Ain’t Got You” before joining Usher in their duet, “My Boo.”

Alicia Keys joined Usher as a surprise guest during the halftime show. She sang her song “If I Ain’t Got You” before joining Usher in their duet, “My Boo.”

Across 13 minutes during the halftime show sponsored by Apple Music, Usher brought out a number of guests including H.E.R., Jermaine Dupri, Lil Jon (for “Turn Down for What,” which became “Yeah!”) — and included a guest appearance from Ludacris.

Across three decades, the R&B superstar had an endless treasure trove of hits to pull from — and did so with costume changes, and a rolling performance of “OMG” while wearing roller skates — at one moment, sliding between will.i.am’s legs.

His album “Confessions” ranks among one of the best-selling music projects of all time and turned 20 this year; “Burn” became an easy performance highlight.

Over the past two years, Usher, 45, has made Vegas a home for his unique talents, with his sold-out residency, “Usher: My Way,” at Dolby Live at Park MGM making him the perfect pick for Sunday’s game.

The eight-time Grammy award winner also is no stranger to the Super Bowl stage — he made a guest appearance with Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am in 2011.

“I got a chance to see a bit of what it felt like,” Usher told The Associated Press in a recent interview. In his first Super Bowl performance, he descended from the stadium ceiling to perform “OMG” in Arlington, Texas.

“Don’t take the moments for granted because you only get 13 of them,” he said in advance of his 2024 performance, referring to the usually allotted 13-minute run time. “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.”

Without a doubt — he figured out exactly how to do just that.

Just hours after the R&B superstar’s headline appearance at the Super Bowl halftime show, Usher and longtime partner Jenn Goicoechea married in Las Vegas, according to officials and documents. The officiant who wed the pair is known to dress as an Elvis Presley impersonator.

The couple married Sunday at Vegas Weddings, according to a marriage certificate made public Monday. The ceremony was officiated by the Rev. Ronald Joseph Polrywka, better known locally as Ron DeCar. Witnesses included Jonnetta Patton, Usher’s mother.

“Congratulations to the Newlyweds!” chapel owner Melody Willis-Williams said in a statement. “We were beyond thrilled to host in this epic day for Usher and his new wife.”

“As much as we love, love,” the statement adds, “this is the couple’s news to share any further details on. We’ll always be fans of Usher! Yeah!”