Usher said he’d be a “fool” not to accept an offer to headline the Super Bowl halftime show, but it seems fans are torn over the announcement this morning.
The NFL, Apple and Roc Nation confirmed the news that the R&B star, would be headlining the 2024 show on February 11 in Las Vegas.
The announcement video featured Kim Kardashian calling the singer to tell him the news while he was working on music in the studio.
Apple Music also posted follow-up announcement videos including other stars delivering the news, including a present time Usher delivering the announcement to a younger version of himself.
However, fans were quick to react and it’s a real mixed bag of die-hard fans and those questioning the decision.
One fan wrote: “I’m not going to hold y’all, this announcement was genius lol.”
“The present calling the past to give a good news dmnnn!!! Sick,” another echoed.
A third has already started thinking about the surprise guests that may make an appearance during the performance: “the amount of surprise guests he can add is limitless!! This is going to be THE BEST SUPER BOWL HALF TIME SHOW.”
While there’s loads of hype surrounding the announcement, others are questioning the decision.
“UNANNOUNCE IT,” wrote one disappointed X (formerly known as Twitter) user.
“This is really the greatest downgrade I ever see,” another said seemingly talking about Usher following Rihanna’s performance at last year’s game.
“Name five Usher songs” seems to be a recurring dig at the singer, but little do people know just how many tunes he has under his belt.
I mean, let’s not forget ‘Yeah!’, ‘My Boo’ and ‘DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love’ - they all SLAP!
Regardless of the haters, this is a moment Usher has been waiting for in his career.
Usher previously told Access Hollywood about the chance to play the Super Bowl show: “I’d be a fool to say no. If things line up the way we would all hope, one day that moment would happen one day.”
Seth Dudowsky, head of music for the NFL, said in a statement on Sunday: “Usher is an icon whose music has left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape throughout his career, we couldn’t be more excited to have him headline this year’s Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show.
Next year will mark Usher’s second time performing at the Super Bowl. Back in 2011, the eight-time Grammy Award winner was a guest during the Black Eyed Peas’ Super Bowl XLV halftime show.
Usher’s appearance will follow Rihanna’s now-iconic Super Bowl 2023 halftime show, in which she shocked fans by announcing her second pregnancy with A$AP Rocky.
Rihanna gave birth to her and 34-year-old A$AP Rocky’s second child, son Riot, in August – with the pair already parents to son RZA, who they had in May 2022.
