USHER is set to bring out a host of special guests for his Super Bowl Halftime show, and plans have changed ‘multiple’ times for the set over the past few months, according to sources.
The U Got It Bad singer will take to the stage in the NFL title game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sunday afternoon.
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Although he won’t get paid a penny for his performance, Usher stands to make a fortune from the slot, with a boost for his album sales after releasing, Coming Home, this month.
Insiders say Usher has been rehearsing for months, mostly at a secret location in Los Angeles, ahead of game day.
Fans have been speculating about which performers may join him onstage, and now Lil Jon and Ludacris have been confirmed, but there may be more, according to sources.
“There have been a lot of different plans for the slot in recent months, everything from Cirque du Soleil performers to a drone show which was cut,” an insider said.
“It’s already an expensive set, and some things were just out of budget for the team.
“But it’s still set to be a huge performance with huge laminates with lights and special guests being brought out, but there could still be last-minute changes.”
THE HITS
Another source claimed Alicia Keys has been added to the line-up, while HER and Justin Bieber are other names that have been rumored to be included.
Usher is understood to be doing a set with a mix of his biggest hits, including his collaboration with Lil Jon, Yeah!.
“I would be a fool to not play ‘Yeah!’ let’s just start there,” Usher told Entertainment Tonight on Thursday.
“It would be foolish to make it all the way to Las Vegas, Jon is here, Luda’s here and not play ‘Yeah!’ “
The 45-year-old singer will perform the longest set in Super Bowl history with 15 minutes packed full of tracks, two minutes longer than the usual slot.
In an interview with Apple Music on Thursday, Usher also said, “I was very mindful of my past, celebrating my present — which is here in Las Vegas — and thinking about where we’re headed in the future. That was really the idea.”
TMZ also reported that Usher had reached out directly to Justin Bieber to join the fun in Vegas, although a source with The U.S. Sun insists this is not yet confirmed.
BIEBER FEVER
Usher mentored Bieber back when he was just 13 years old and along with manager, Scooter Braun, guided him to pop superstardom.
The Biebs did make a surprise return to the stage for the first time in two years last week, with a surprise gig in Toronto while in town for the 2024 NHL All-Star Weekend.
The 29-year-old star stopped his Justice world tour in 2022 and canceled his concerts last year after being diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, which can cause facial paralysis.
According to reports, he performed Baby, Peaches, Hold On, and other hits from his back catalog in Canada.
As for the game itself, the Kansas City Chiefs face the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl.
The Chiefs have a chance to win back-to-back Super Bowls, a feat that hasn’t been done since Tom Brady and the New England Patriots achieved the task in 2003 and 2004.
Meanwhile, the 49ers and star QB Brock Purdy look to cap off a tremendous year after a 12-5 regular season record and two post-season victories over the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions.
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