Honestly, the 2024 Super Bowl halftime show was a fever dream. If you weren't there—or glued to your couch like 129 million other people—it’s hard to describe the sheer, beautiful chaos of it all. Usher didn’t just perform; he basically turned Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas into a giant, sweat-soaked R&B club. People were expecting a "greatest hits" medley, and they got that, but the execution was something else entirely.
It was fast. It was frantic. It was deeply Atlanta.
A lot of the conversation afterward focused on whether the audio was a bit "off" during those first few minutes. You probably heard it too—that weird thinness in the microphone while he was hitting high-octane choreography. But once he stripped off that white Dolce & Gabbana jacket and started gliding, nobody really cared about the technical hiccups. He was 45 years old and moving like he was 22.
The Guest List That Actually Made Sense
Usually, these shows feel like a random assortment of whoever is famous that year. Not this time. Every person who stepped onto that stage had a specific reason to be there.
Alicia Keys was the first big reveal. She was draped in this incredible red organza cape, sitting at a matching red piano that looked more like a piece of modern art than an instrument. When she hit that first note of "If I Ain't Got You," the energy shifted. It wasn't just a concert anymore; it was a vibe. Their duet of "My Boo" had the internet in a total tailspin because of how close they were, but let's be real—it was just great stagecraft.
Then came H.E.R.
She walked out with an electric guitar and just shredded. Most people forget that Usher has always had a thing for rock-infused R&B, and having her play the solo for "Bad Girl" was a genius move. It gave the show a texture that a lot of previous halftime performances have lacked. It wasn't just backing tracks; it was live, loud, and felt a little bit dangerous.
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Roller Skates and the "Vegas to Atlanta" Pipeline
The middle of the set featured one of the most stressful things I’ve ever seen on live TV: Usher on roller skates.
He didn't just roll around. He did a full-blown routine to "OMG" with will.i.am, including a move where he skated through will.i.am’s legs. One wrong move and the whole thing is a viral disaster. Instead, it became the highlight of the night. It was a direct nod to his 100-show Las Vegas residency, where he’d perfected the art of the R&B-skating-spectacle.
He brought out the Sonic Boom of the South—Jackson State University's legendary marching band.
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That was the "Atlanta" part of the promise. You can’t tell the story of Usher without talking about HBCU culture and the deep south's musical roots. Seeing a full marching band spell out his name on the field while Lil Jon screamed "Turn Down For What" from the middle of a mosh pit? That’s peak entertainment.
Why 2024 Was Different for Usher
Most performers use the Super Bowl to kickstart a career or mount a comeback. For Usher, the 2024 Super Bowl halftime show was a victory lap. He had just finished a massive residency. He’d released a new album, Coming Home, literally two days before the game.
He wasn't trying to prove he could do it; he was showing everyone he’s the only one who is doing it at this level.
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There’s this misconception that halftime shows are just about the music. They're not. They're about logistics and stamina. Usher performed a 14-song setlist in about 13 minutes. To do that while singing live—mostly—and doing a full costume change into a blue-and-black motocross-inspired Off-White outfit encrusted with 394,000 crystals is bordering on superhuman.
The Setlist That Defined an Era:
- Caught Up
- U Don't Have to Call
- Superstar
- Love in This Club
- If I Ain't Got You / My Boo (with Alicia Keys)
- Confessions Part II (with Jermaine Dupri)
- Nice & Slow / Burn
- U Got It Bad / Bad Girl (with H.E.R.)
- OMG (with will.i.am)
- Turn Down for What (with Lil Jon)
- Yeah! (with Ludacris and Lil Jon)
What We Can Learn From the Performance
The biggest takeaway from the 2024 show isn't about the fashion or the guest stars. It’s about the "renters vs. owners" mentality. Usher owned that stage because he treats his craft like an athlete. He reportedly trained for months just to ensure his cardio could handle the transition from the "ballad" section of the show to the high-energy finale of "Yeah!"
If you're looking to revisit the magic or understand why this specific show resonated so much, look at the transitions. Most artists stop for a "thank you" or a breather. Usher never stopped. The momentum was a freight train.
Next Steps for R&B Fans:
- Watch the "rehearsal" footage: Apple Music released several "behind the scenes" clips that show how they actually built the stage in under eight minutes. It’s a masterclass in production.
- Listen to the live arrangements: The Super Bowl versions of these songs often have different horn sections and drum fills than the studio versions.
- Check out the "Coming Home" tour: If you liked the halftime vibe, his 2024/2025 tour was essentially a three-hour version of that 13-minute set.
The 2024 Super Bowl halftime show set a high bar for whoever follows. It proved that you don't need a massive, conceptual "art piece" stage if you have a performer who can actually, well, perform. Usher didn't need a floating platform or a CGI field. He just needed a pair of skates and his hits.