Swizz Beatz, H.E.R., fans react to Usher's Super Bowl halftime show performance: 'I cried'
Usher had his fans cheering "Yeah!" when he headlined the Super Bowl halftime show Sunday night.
The Grammy-winning singer delivered a suave, nostalgic set that showcased his legacy of R&B-pop hits, including "Caught Up," "Love in This Club" and "U Got it Bad." The 13-minute performance also featured appearances from longtime pals and collaborators Alicia Keys, H.E.R., Will.i.am., Lil Jon, Jermaine Dupri and Ludacris.
Swizz Beatz, Keys' husband, reacted to her intimate "My Boo" duet with Usher on Instagram Sunday and responded to fan reactions that implied he may be upset about the romantic performance.
"Y’all talking about the wrong ... thing !!! y’all don’t see that amazing dress covering the entire stadium," he wrote with laughing and smoke emojis under a set of photos of Keys and Usher. "Tonight’s performance was nothing but amazing with 2 amazing Giants ! Congrats @usher and my love @aliciakeys that song is a classic 🤍 We don’t do negative vibes on this side we make history."
H.E.R. was giddy following her performance, writing on Instagram Sunday night: "CAN’T SPELL USHER WITHOUT H.E.R.
"HALFTIME SHOW?!?!???? WHAAAAAAT. AND IT WAS THE GREATEST EVER," she captioned a set of photos from her appearance during the halftime show, playing an electric guitar. "THANK YOU FOR YOUR TALENT, YOUR LOVE, AND FOR SHARING THIS MOMENT WITH ME. WOW I HAVE NO WORDS."
On X, formerly Twitter, the singer shared a childhood photo of her singing in a sports stadium and a photo of her performing at the Super Bowl, with the caption: "How it started vs how it’s going. Who woulda thought," with a crying face emoji. "thank you @Usher."
Fans also flocked to social media to share their praise for Usher's performance and captivating showmanship.
"The way those hits upon hits kept on transitioning was a mazzaleen," @studiopixie wrote on X. "Usher did all that, and still had time to fling on skates 🛼🛼 and show out. Epic 🤪👏🏾🔥#SuperBowl #Usher #UsherBowl.”
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X user @redforjanet used a past clip of an emotional Beyoncé interview to describe her feelings about Usher's performance. "I'm just so lucky to be a part of this history. It's probably the most important day of my life," Beyoncé said in the clip.
"Usher really crammed everything that he possibly could into his set, and that’s why he’ll forever be the king," @redforjanet added. "Deserved a longer set, but that was amazinggg!"
Usher's Super Bowl milestone was also a point of pride for some Millennial fans, who grew up listening to the singer in the '90s and 2000s.
"Gen Z gotta realize this Halftime Show ain’t for them. This is for us millennials! #UsherBowl#SuperBowl," @TVTalkWithJWalk wrote on X.
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Usher's romantic duet of "My Boo" with Keys proved to be an immediate crowd-pleaser online.
"I cried at home as I watched the #SuperBowlLVIII to see #Usher performing the #HalftimeShow as he sang “My Boo” with #AliciaKeys!!! My favorite part of #UsherBowl!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️" X user @Bchargoisthear1 wrote. "I screamed nostalgically…👏🥹"
"The nostalgia. The nod to ATL. The full commitment to R&B. The hips. The LIVE vocals. A perfect halftime performance. Idc idc idc #UsherBowl" @kendalljamaal wrote on X.
How to watch Usher's 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show performance
If you missed Usher's epic Super Bowl Halftime Show performance (or you're like us and need a rewatch) there are ways to catch the performance after the fact.
The full 13-minute performance is available on the NFL's YouTube page and to Apple Music subscribers.
Fubo and NFL+ will also let you rewatch Super Bowl LVIII on demand, including Usher's halftime show performance.
Fubo has a "lookback" feature that allows you to watch previously aired content up to 72 hours past its original airing. The streamer has a variety of packages including CBS, the network the Super Bowl aired on. You can start a seven-day free trial of Fubo and begin watching immediately on your TV, phone, tablet or desktop computer.
NFL+ offers users a chance to rewatch the game and Super Bowl halftime performance on their phones or mobile devices. The NFL+ Premium tier includes access to the full game on demand for $15 per month or a yearly subscription for $40.
Usher says Super Bowl halftime performance signals 'next chapter' of new album
While chatting to USA TODAY in November for The Essentials, Usher said his Super Bowl halftime performance foreshadowed his next musical incarnation with "Coming Home," his ninth studio album released Friday.
"Vegas has offered an opportunity to celebrate the past and celebrate the records, the No. 1s, the connection to the audience, the entertainment," Usher said at the time, referring to his Vegas "My Way" residency at Park MGM. "And then the Super Bowl moment offers not only that, but then a segue into the next chapter."
'Oh, I'm ruined':Usher talks Super Bowl show, reveals most 'personal' song on new album
The album, which features a mix of slow jams, love-making grooves and get-up-on-your-feet bangers, offers 20 songs of relief for fans and for the R&B star himself.
"You're most comfortable when you're at home," Usher told USA TODAY earlier this month. "So coming home to me feels like the safest space that I found, and that is to be comfortable in my skin. You know, the other half is the life that I've lived has had me running for so long, had me outside, had me moving around. To slow it down a bit and just come home, and me having perspective and (sharing) perspective is another aspect."
Usher was inspired by 'melting pot' of hometown Atlanta for Super Bowl halftime performance
During a Thursday press conference at Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Usher said he conceived the 13-minute performance to be "mindful of my past, celebrating my present, which is here in Las Vegas, and thinking about where we’re headed in the future."
The "Confessions" singer also attributed the vibe of his halftime show performance to his Atlanta roots, which factored heavily into his two Las Vegas residencies at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace and Park MGM.
"I've been able to bring a great deal of Atlanta and the melting pot it is musically and culturally to Vegas. That’s the source that has been fueling me, so why not show it to the rest of the world if they’re seeing me for the first time?" Usher said. "I thought about things I have created here in Las Vegas – like skating – which I have not done onstage (other than the residency shows). Everybody who heard about my shows in Las Vegas, you’re going to get the best of it."
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Contributing: Anika Reed, Taijuan Moorman and Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY
