Usher’s highly anticipated Super Bowl LVIII performance on Sunday, Feb. 11, turned out to be a more than 12-minute, high-energy, star-studded set, filled with loads of the singer’s hits such as “My Way” (1997), “Caught Up,” “Confessions,” “Yeah” (all 2004) and “OMG” (2010).
With appearances from Alicia Keys to sing her and Usher’s celebrated duet “My Boo” to will.i.am., H.E.R., Jermaine Dupri, Lil Jon and Ludacris, the singer brought out heavy hitters to help perform some of his celebrated bangers. However, in addition to celebrities, Usher, during Black History Month, featured important aspects of African American life, history and culture.
Jackson State University’s (JSU) marching band Sonic Boom of the South performed with Usher during the big game. Already a lauded band among those in the know – Usher’s Super Bowl show offered the HBCU (historically Black colleges and universities) an opportunity to perform as part of football’s biggest night.
In addition to the Sonic Boom, Usher also brought out two members of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity to dance alongside him as he performed his 2008 song “Love in this Club.” Using their signature red and white canes, the brothers showcased classic moves and further exposed audiences to the Divine Nine, and Kappa Alpha Psi, which was founded on January 5, 1911.
Usher brought precious pieces of Black culture to the masses.
According to Nielsen on the Tuesday after the Super Bowl, Usher’s performance averaged 129.3 million viewers (a 7% increase from Rihanna’s 121 million last year) making it the most watched halftime show on record, the Associated Press reported.
From an HBCU marching band to the classic Kappa canes and shimmy, audiences across the nation and globe were able to briefly tap into the deep history, culture and breadth of African American performance practices and traditions.