Usher to Extend Super Bowl Halftime Show to 15 Minutes, Reflects on Vegas Residency Finale

Usher has made headlines by revealing that his upcoming Super Bowl Halftime Show performance this Sunday will run for 15 minutes, two minutes longer than the standard 13-minute duration typically allotted for halftime shows. Speaking about the extended runtime, Usher expressed his excitement, calling it a “huge strategic thing” that he crafted with his agency.

“I can’t explain why, but it’s a funny thing that I was able to do and craft. That was a huge strategic thing that happened between me and my agency,” Usher shared about the decision to extend the performance.

Additionally, Usher sees his Super Bowl Halftime Show as the culmination of his Las Vegas residency, which concluded its two-year run last year. Reflecting on his Vegas show, Usher emphasized the unwavering belief he had in its success despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I went to Las Vegas with only the belief that people would come because nobody was going anywhere. You have to understand how much of an unwavering belief a person had to have to put together a show after a year of nobody going anywhere and everybody being afraid to be outside for fear of catching COVID or endangering themselves and their families,” Usher said.

In addition to his Super Bowl performance, Usher also stars in “Where’s Usher?”, a short film produced by Apple Music to promote his halftime show. The 7-minute feature, a parody of “The Hangover”, follows Ludacris, Lil Jon, and Taraji P. Henson as they search for Usher in Las Vegas after losing him during a wild night out.

During their adventure, the trio encounters various celebrities including Anderson.Paak, the Blue Man Group, Wesley Snipes, J. Balvin, and the voice of Andre 3000. The film culminates with the trio finding Usher on the roof of their hotel, ensuring that the halftime show can proceed as planned.

While the promotional short film is described as “fairly amusing but crushingly corporate,” it effectively captures the spirit of entertainment in 2024. With its star-studded cast and humorous storyline, the film serves as a creative way to generate excitement for Usher’s Super Bowl performance, blending humor with corporate promotion in a manner befitting the modern era.