R&B superstar Usher headlines the halftime spectacle of Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas today and Rihanna is excited. The 2023 Super Bowl headliner says she doesn’t have any advice for Usher as he is about to walk the road she did last year.
“I can’t give Usher no advice, Usher is a natural, he is a legend, he has been doing it since he was a teenager, he is made for that show. He is not going to shake one second and he shouldn’t,” the Barbadian billionaire said.
“Usher you got this bro, but he knows that, everybody knows that, he is meant for this. I get excited about entertainers who do this, who are built for this and he just proves in Vegas that he is not going anywhere,” Rihanna told E! News.
Scores of celebrities including Taylor Swift, Alicia Keys, Justin Bieber and more flock to Las Vegas this week to watch the game and see the celebrated artist who late last year completed his Vegas residency. Alicia and Justin are expected to join the You Got It Bad singer on stage.
However, the lineup for the 2024 Super Bowl halftime show isn’t solely anchored by Usher; there’s a melodic ensemble awaiting football aficionados as the Kansas City Chiefs clash with the San Francisco 49ers.
Expressing his excitement, Usher remarked, “It’s an honor of a lifetime to finally check a Super Bowl performance off my bucket list. I can’t wait to bring the world a show unlike anything else they’ve seen from me before.”
Reflecting on the significance of the event, Usher shared in an interview on CBS “Sunday Morning” that performing at the Super Bowl has been a lifelong dream, akin to achieving a pinnacle in the music industry. He emphasized the historical context, particularly for African American artists, and acknowledged the legacy he’s now a part of.
In preparation for his performance, Usher recounted advice from JAY-Z, the Super Bowl’s live music entertainment strategist, who urged him to honor the culture and deliver moments cherished by fans. Alongside Usher’s electrifying set, Shaheem Sanchez will render an American Sign Language interpretation of the halftime performance.
Despite Tiësto’s initial inclusion as the “first in-game DJ” for the Super Bowl, his absence due to a family matter has been noted, leaving the possibility open for additional artists to grace the stage alongside Usher.
Moreover, the pregame festivities promise a lineup of stellar performances, including country music icon Reba McEntire delivering the national anthem for her inaugural Super Bowl appearance, accompanied by ASL interpretations by Daniel Durant. Rapper Post Malone will captivate audiences with “America the Beautiful,” while Andra Day will resonate with “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” complemented by a sign language rendition by Shaheem Sanchez.
Super Bowl LVIII will be aired on CBS, Nickelodeon, or Paramount+ on Sunday, Feb. 11, as the festivities unfold at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, with kickoff slated for 6:30 p.m. ET.
