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United States SBJ Closing Bell: NFL to play international game at Real Madrid's Bernabeu in 2025
Usher released his ninth album “Coming Home” today, two days before a Super Bowl LVIII halftime show performance
Nearly 30 years after releasing his first album, Usher will become the first independent artist to perform at a Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday in Las Vegas -- a “crescendo” to his 100-show residency in the city that ended in December.
“It definitely has been a challenge to squeeze 30 years into 13 minutes,” he said at a press conference on Thursday.
Usher released his ninth album “Coming Home” today, two days before a Super Bowl LVIII halftime show performance that will incorporate aspects of his recent residency show, such as roller skating in custom-made skates he created.
He stayed tight-lipped on a set list and potential guest performers, noting decisions on prospective cameos were influenced by the features he’s had on hit records, but teased a potential documentary about his journey in curating the performance.
“Apple has been following me throughout this entire process, so we’re in the process of figuring out how we’re gonna share it with you,” Usher said. “There’s also, too, a documentary crew that’s been collecting all of the moments that have happened, so there’s cameras around us at all times looking at the process that we went through.”
“You get a chance to see from the first moment that I got the call all the way to the moment I’ll walk off the stage, at least that’s the idea.”
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Halftime show sponsor Apple Music released a seven-minute short film titled “Where’s Usher” on Thursday featuring appearances from artists Ludacris, Lil Jon and Anderson .Paak as well as Apple CEO Tim Cook.
Usher said Las Vegas has been “amazing” for him and that he hopes to continue doing business in the city. “I visualize in these next few years that there will be more opportunity to build here in Las Vegas. I love this city; when I received the key I started trying to open doors,” he said.
“Where does that lead me? I don’t know, maybe it’s businesses, maybe it's more shows, maybe it’s shows that I curate, maybe it’s festivals … maybe it’s hotels, maybe it’s a different idea and standard for artists who came from this world and then created business in this town.”
Before the Super Bowl kicks off, Reba McEntire will perform the national anthem, Post Malone will sign “America The Beautiful” and Andra Day will perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
“I love Vegas, Vegas doesn’t love me,” Post Malone said. “A couple casinos could tell you about [my Las Vegas experiences]. The casinos love me.”
Nicky Wolcott is covering the Super Bowl as an editorial intern for SBJ. The University of Maryland senior was selected by the Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism to represent the school in Las Vegas. This marks the third year of the partnership between Maryland and SBJ.
