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11 Feb 2024

Usher Electrifies 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show With Special Guests Alicia Keys, Ludacris, H.E.R. & More

As the lights dimmed for the 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show in Las Vegas, the San Francisco 49ers led the Kansas City Chiefs 10-3, but that facedown took a 15-minute backseat to a bombastic celebration of one of the most staggering careers in pop history — Usher‘s.

Decked out in a white diamond-studded blazer and pants, Usher ushered in a maximalist ode to Las Vegas, Black performance history and his hometown of Atlanta. Throughout his set, the “Burn” singer incorporated flappers, Cirque du Soleil-esque dancers and roller skaters as he tore through his timeless discography. Performing both on the field and in an elevated stage — which was surrounded by a marching band that spelled out his name — Usher dominated every inch of Allegiant Stadium.

Beginning with “Caught Up,” Usher rolled through decades of hits including “Nice & Slow,” “U Don’t Have to Call” and “Love In This Club.” Armed with an arsenal of solo hits and collaborative smashes, Usher also trotted out a number of eye-popping surprise guests. As heavily rumored, Grammy-winner Alicia Keys indeed made an appearance during the halftime show, and she sported a sultry rhinestone-encrusted red corseted bodysuit for the occasion.

The two R&B icons performed a brief snippet of Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You” before delivering a heartwarming rendition of “My Boo,” their 2004 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit. Other guests included Oscar-winning R&B singer-songwriter H.E.R. — who delivered a Prince-esque guitar solo during Usher’s show-stopping “U Got It Bad” performance before playing the opening licks of “Bad Girl” — as well as Jermaine Dupri (who introduced “Confessions, Pt. II”) and Ludacris, who flawlessly delivered his iconic “Yeah!” verse.

Gracing the halftime show just a few months after closing one of the most successful and buzzed-about Las Vegas residencies in history — his My Way show grossed $95.9 million — Usher also made good on his promises of shirtlessness, precise choreography and gyration. The “Climax” singer underwent several outfit changes, going from his white ensemble, to a bare chest, before closing with a leather jacket and pants combo in the blue-white-black color palette. Needless to say, the show was a feast for the eyes on all artistic fronts.

As just the second performer to headline the Apple Music era of Super Bowl Halftime shows, Usher delivered an outstanding follow-up to Rihanna‘s two-time Emmy-winning 2023 show. While “Yeah” and
“OMG” unsurprisingly drew the loudest reactions across Allegiant Stadium, the crowd also went wild for cuts such as “Love In This Club.” None of this is too shocking, however, considering Usher’s jaw-dropping success. The eight-time Grammy winner boasts nine Hot 100 No. 1 hits and four Billboard 200 No. 1 albums, including Confessions, which recently earned a 14x platinum certification from the RIAA.

By the end of his performance, Usher presented the ultimate case for not only his King of R&B title, but also the necessity of seeing him on his forthcoming Past Present Future tour. The 44-show trek is set to launch on Aug. 20 in Washington, D.C., and includes multi-night runs at Brooklyn’s Barclay Center (Sept. 6-10), Atlanta’s State Farm Arena (Oct. 17-20) and the brand-new Inuit Dome (Sept. 17-24) in Inglewood, Calif.

Here’s Usher Super Bowl Halftime Show setlist:

  • “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, Pt. II” (with Jermaine Dupri)
  • “Nice & Slow”
  • “Burn”
  • “U Got It Bad” / “Bad Girl” (with H.E.R.)
  • “OMG” / “Turn Down for What” (with Lil Jon)
  • “Yeah!” (with Ludacris)

11 Feb 2024

Cardi B Is Rooting for Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce’s Relationship: ‘I Think It’s Cute’

Cardi B is all for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s happiness.

Ahead of the 2024 Super Bowl, where the Kansas City Chiefs would play the San Francisco 49ers, the rapper talked to The Hollywood Reporter on the set of her NYX Professional Makeup commercial scheduled to air during the big game. The spot marks her third Super Bowl commercial, following a Pepsi ad in 2019 and a McDonald’s ad in 2023.

While chatting about the Super Bowl, the topic turned to Swift — who made headlines for her journey from her Tokyo Eras Tour shows to Las Vegas for the game. The pop star arrived to Allegiant Stadium in time to cheer on Kelce and the Chiefs, with her mother and friends including Ice Spice and Blake Lively by her side.

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“I think it’s cute,” Cardi said of Swift dating tight end Kelce, and the public support she gives him. “She looks so happy.”

She added, “I feel like she’s really private with her relationships, so I really feel like she likes him a lot because she’s like, ‘I don’t give a f—. I’m going to kiss him. I’m going to touch him. I’m going to kiss him! Yeah, I’m here. Yeah, I’m taking a jet to see my man.’”

Cardi stars in NYX’s new ad, which has the rapper advertising the brand’s “Duck Face” lip product, which she says will deliver “bigger” and “plumper” results. The spot airing during the Super Bowl is shortened and shows a QR code directing viewers to watch an extended, 60-second version.

Although the “Bongos” star admitted she’s not a huge football fan herself, she said she loved that the idea behind the Super Bowl commercial poked fun at men.

Plus, she was looking forward to Usher‘s halftime show performance.

“I’m not going to say [it’s way overdue] because everything is always on great timing. He came right on time and I’m so excited. He has come back stronger than ever and boom,” she said. “My choreographer has worked with Usher before and he said that he is very strict [and] takes his routine seriously, and that’s why I feel like his shows are so amazing.”

Elsewhere in the conversation, Cardi B said: “In the future, I would like to do a Super Bowl.”

11 Feb 2024

Ice Spice Cuts Off Her Ex in ‘Deli’-Soundtracked Starry Super Bowl 2024 Ad: Watch

Breakups are hard — just ask Ice Spice. Teaming up with PepsiCo’s burgeoning lemon-lime soda brand Starry for a new Super Bowl commercial that aired Sunday (Feb. 11), the “Munch” rapper gave a masterclass to moving on.

Sipping on a glass of Starry as an animated lemon and lime shower her cheeks with sweet smooches, Ice Spice exclaims, “This Starry is mad good!” in her trademark Bronx accent. Soon after, her ex, simply named Lemon-Lime Soda, confronts her about her flirting with other lemon-lime-flavored soft drinks. “I just need something refreshing, more crisp! I’m with Starry now,” she explains to him.

Despite her attempts at solace, Lemon-Lime soda exploded into a geyser of fizzy tears as the screen cut to the tagline “It’s time to see other sodas” with the raucous instrumental of Ice Spice’s “Deli” — which peaked at No. 41 on the Billboard Hot 100 — blasting in the background.

PepsiCo debuted Starry in January 2023 as a replacement of the now-discontinued Sierra Mist, a competitor to other fizzy lemon-lime beverages such as Sprite and 7 Up.

Far from her first major advertising campaign — remember her and Ben Affleck’s hilarious Dunkin’ commercials? — a Super Bowl ad is yet another career-shifting achievement for Ice Spice. On Feb. 4, she attended the 66th Grammy Awards, where she competed in four categories: best new artist, best song written for visual media (“Barbie World”), best rap song (“Barbie World”) and best pop/duo group performance (“Karma”). And on March 6, the “Fart” rapper will be honored with the Hitmaker Award at the 2024 Billboard Women in Music Awards.

Watch Ice Spice’s new Starry Super Bowl ad below:


https://youtube.com/watch?v=1xA7ENrLtUw&version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&start=17&wmode=transparent

11 Feb 2024

Watch Ryan Gosling Cry to Taylor Swift’s ‘All Too Well’ in ‘The Fall Guy’ Trailer

Ryan Gosling is a certified Swiftie — or at least his character in The Fall Guy is.

The trailer for the upcoming action film inspired by the hit 1980s TV series dropped during Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday (Feb. 11). The one-minute clip promises that the stunt-filled movie will deliver “romance, drama, butt slaps, ice crimes, Ryan Mother F—ing Gosling, burritos, boats and Emily Mother F—ing Blunt,” before adding “lots of feelings” to the list. The scene then cuts to Gosling crying to Taylor Swift‘s “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)” in his car. Blunt disrupts the emotional moment to ask what he’s doing, to which an embarrassed Gosling says he’s “chilling down.”

“You were crying to Taylor Swift?” Blunt asks, before Gosling hilariously replies, “Doesn’t everyone?”

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In the film, Gosling “stars as Colt Seavers, a battle-scarred stuntman who, having left the business a year earlier to focus on both his physical and mental health, is drafted back into service when the star of a mega-budget studio movie — being directed by his ex, Jody Moreno,” played by Blunt, according to the film’s description.

The trailer’s use of Swift’s Red (Taylor’s Version) hit is fitting, as the pop superstar was spotted in the stands at Allegiant Stadium alongside Ice Spice and Blake Lively; the pop superstar was supporting her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, who is the tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, who took on the San Fransisco 49ers for the championship.

The Fall Guy hits theaters on May 3. Watch the full trailer below.

11 Feb 2024

Jennifer Lopez Puts an End to Ben Affleck’s Pop-Star Dreams in Dunkin’s Super Bowl Ad: Watch

Ben Affleck‘s ready to get loud, but Jennifer Lopez isn’t gonna let him do it his way. In Dunkin’s 2024 Super Bowl ad, the Oscar-winning actor-director continues his previously teased efforts to become a pop superstar like his wife, and this time, he’s roped in some seriously A-list help.

The spot picks up where the most recent Dunkin’ game-day ad left off, with Affleck getting some advice on his musical career from Jack Harlow. “I don’t think you should do this,” warns the “Lovin On Me” rapper as he and Affleck sit in a car.

Then, in reference to the coffee and doughnut company’s 2023 ad in which J. Lo rolls up to a Dunkin’ drive-through window helmed by the actor to show him who’s boss, the Boston native responds, “Last year she came to MY work. Now I gotta show her what I can do!”

And that he does … though not as well as he thinks. As Lopez is working on her upcoming album, This Is Me … Now, in the studio, the aspiring musician barges in with Beantown heroes Tom Brady and Matt Damon — all of them dressed in matching bright orange and fuchsia tracksuits emblazoned with the name of the group and a giant crown on the chest. “Here comes the Boston Massacre! The DunKings!” Affleck declares as the group makes its entrance. “Touchdown Tommy on the keys! And he needs no introduction … my partner!”

At his intro, the Jason Bourne star and Affleck’s longtime best bud mutters, “It’s really hard to be your friend, man …”

Affleck’s track — “Don’t Dunk Away at My Heart,” features the lyrics “Don’t dunk away with my heart / Why you Dunkin’ me, girl?” — starts playing as the actor and his backup dancers show off the choreographed moves TikTok star Charli D’Amelio showed him in an earlier teaser.

As the bit ends, J. Lo looks embarrassed from her booth, while Fat Joe pops in to stare with an incredulous look on his face.

“How do you like them … doughnuts,” Damon says, completely dejected. “I’m so sorry.”

“You had to see it, but I forgive you!” Affleck tells his wife, blowing her a kiss before giving her an instruction. “Lay us on the track!”

A horrified Jenny From the Block turns down her husband, who responds with a baseball reference as he walks out: “That’s cold … You’re blinded by them pinstripes! There goes Babe Ruth!”

As Damon and Affleck walk away, the Oppenheimer actor tells his friend, “Remember when I told you I’d do anything for you? This is anything.”

Watch J. Lo’s latest dunk on Ben Affleck in Dunkin’s 2024 Super Bowl ad above.

11 Feb 2024

Super Bowl 2024: Stars at the Big Game

All eyes were on the field at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas for the 2024 Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 11. The NFL’s top two teams — the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs — battled hard during the season to make it to the championships to go head-to-head for the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

While football fans from all over made their way to the stands in Sin City, so, too, did celebrities — both on and off the field. The pregame show kicked off with Andra Day delivering a soaring version of “Lift Every Voice” and sing, followed by Post Malone (and his guitar!) for “America the Beautiful,” followed by country superstar Reba McEntire, who delivered a heartfelt rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Also spotted on the field ahead of the game were Jay-Z and daughter Blue Ivy. Up in the stands, Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani kicked back for a casual game day, while celeb chef Gordon Ramsay snacked next to Imagine Dragon’s Dan Reynolds and girlfriend Minka Kelly.

But of course, many viewers — both at home and at the stadium — kept their eyes on a box suite. Taylor Swift’s, to be exact. The pop superstar had traveled from Tokyo to Sin City after wrapping her fourth show of her Eras Tour at the Tokyo Dome in Japan on Saturday (Feb. 10) to cheer on boyfriend Travis Kelce, who is the tight end for the Chiefs. In the box with the 14-time Grammy winner were pals Blake Lively and Ice Spice, as well as Kelce’s mom, Donna, big brother Jason (who plays center for the Philadelphia Eagles) and more.

Keep scrolling to see which other bold-faced names showed up at Super Bowl LVIII.

11 Feb 2024

‘Wicked’ Trailer Starring Ariana Grande & Cynthia Erivo Unveiled During Super Bowl 2024: Watch

Fans tuning into the 2024 Super Bowl Sunday (Feb. 11) got a wicked surprise during one of the early commercial breaks. After more than a year since filming started, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s first trailer for the live action adaptation of Wicked was finally unveiled between plays in the first quarter.

In the trailer, Grande stuns as Glinda the Good Witch opposite Erivo’s Elphaba. The two characters’ first meeting is captured in the sneak peek, with the “Positions” singer audibly gasping as she sees the Harriet star and says, “You’re green!”

Snippets of Grande singing “For Good” and Erivo belting out “Defying Gravity” were also included in the minute-long trailer, as are appearances from Bridgerton‘s Jonathan Bailey, who plays Fiyero; Jeff Goldblum, who portrays the Wizard of Oz; and Michelle Yeoh, who stars as Madame Morrible.

Director Jon M. Chu’s live-action adaptation of the Broadway musical Wicked — which itself was adapted from the bestselling novel of the same title by Gregory Maguire — was filmed in the U.K. throughout last year, and also features Ethan Slater and Bowen Yang in the cast. The project will arrive in two parts: the first feature-length premiering on Thanksgiving, and the second scheduled for 2025.

In January, the “Yes, And?” musician wrote on Instagram Stories that she was “permanently and preferably intertwined” with Erivo, Chu and the rest of the film’s cast. “i will never forget even a minute of my year(s) with [Glinda],” she added. “there aren’t words quite yet. but. thank you, Jon, for leading the way with such compassion, openness, brilliance and kindness.”

Watch the new Wicked trailer above.

11 Feb 2024

NYX Professional Makeup Commercial Starring Cardi B Shortened for 2024 Super Bowl Broadcast

Cardi B has a 2024 Super Bowl commercial airing on CBS, but you’ll have to look on YouTube or social media for the payoff of the NYX Professional Makeup “Lips Only” ad’s second half.

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A 30-second spot was approved by league representatives for broadcast during the Super Bowl, the cosmetics brand says, but the second half of the commercial was not. Billboard reached out to CBS, which is showing the game, for comment.

The 30-second Cardi B x NYX commercial airing during the Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ers game has the rapper advertising the brand’s “Duck Face” lip product, which she says will deliver “bigger” and “plumper” results. Its last 15 seconds is a blackout that will show “a QR code directing viewers to watch the unedited, 60-second version that is currently being shared across NYX Professional Makeup’s YouTube and social channels,” reps for NYX wrote in a press release.

An uncut version of the NYX commercial starring Cardi was released on the internet ahead of the big game, accumulating more than two million views on YouTube at press time.

The 60-second version, which is not being shown on TV during the Super Bowl, shows the immediate male reaction to the product after they’ve apparently confused the word “duck” with another four-letter word that begins with a “d” and ends with a “ck” — and have regrettably made some bad decisions about how to use the plumping product. Chaos ensues.

“They put it where?” Cardi asks as the hashtag #ForLipsOnly comes up on the screen.

“As a female-led brand with female creators behind the work, we’re proud of our creative idea, which flips the script on male stereotypes with lighthearted humor,” says Yasmin Dastmalchi, NYX Professional Makeup general manager, USA. “As a bold brand rooted in entertainment, and as a first-time advertiser on Super Bowl Sunday, our intention was to make everyone laugh during the big game. We hope you love it as much as we do!”

Cardi shared a preview of the commercial on her Instagram account on Saturday. “For Lips Only,” she captioned the clip, adding a kiss-and-wink emoji to her message.

In a chat with The Hollywood Reporter, who was on set when the rapper filmed the ad, Cardi said she loved that the idea behind the commercial poked fun at men.

Watch the uncut Cardi B x NYX Cosmetics commercial below.


https://youtube.com/watch?v=5Z3vPLTpa30&version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

11 Feb 2024

Post Malone Brings Out His Guitar for Stirring ‘America the Beautiful’ Performance at the 2024 Super Bowl

Post Malone shook off his pre-game jitters and delivered a rousing performance of “America the Beautiful” ahead of Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday (Feb. 11). With a guitar in tow, Posty showcased his range, hitting myriad high notes.

The multi-hyphenate was among a starry lineup that included pregame performers Reba McEntire and Andra Day. The country icon tackled the national anthem, while Day sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

Before his performance, Posty touched on his nervousness in an interview with Apple Music’s Nadeska Alexis. “Nerve-racking. I’m very nervous, but excited. I’m excited. It’s just fun and super-epic to be able to go out and sing a song so many beautiful artists have sang before. I’m just gonna do my best, just do my best, and give it what I got,” he said.

Posty revealed how his dad helped calm his anxiety leading up to his rendition. “My dad told me, ‘You’ll never make everybody happy, so just be yourself and do your best at everything you do.’ Do it your way and do it with love,” Malone said.

After Malone, McEntire and Day, Usher will be tonight’s grand musical show, as he was named the halftime performer. Following the likes of Beyonce, Dr. Dre and Bruno Mars, to name a few, Usher will look to cement his place in history as one of the more memorable performers in modern history. 

“It will definitely be an event,” he told Billboard of his halftime set. “There are special guests. And I’ve considered new songs. But you know, it’s 12 to 15 minutes. So it’s really hard to determine what moment matters more than others, especially with a new song. But there’s the dance, the wardrobe, the lighting, how long you stay in a song, the fact that the audience may sing along … It’s a lot. So I’m trying my hardest not to overthink it.

Watch Post Malone’s take on “America the Beautiful” above.

11 Feb 2024

Reba McEntire Delivers a Heartfelt Take on ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ at the 2024 Super Bowl: Watch

Super Bowl LVIII is officially underway, and Reba McEntire helped kick things off on Sunday (Feb. 11) with a heartfelt performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” before the San Francisco 49ers took on the Kansas City Chiefs for the NFL championship.

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With a massive American flag stretched out before her on the field at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium, the 68-year-old country icon belted out the patriotic lyrics as the players, coaches, Super Bowl attendees and military service members around the world watched the performer, many with tears in their eyes, including the Chiefs’ defensive tackle Chris Jones. McEntire delivered her emotion-filled performance dressed as a true country star, rocking a gold blazer and flared pants, accessorized with a big-buckled belt.

As previously noted by her spokesperson, the Super Bowl performance by the Country Music Hall of Fame superstar is particularly nostalgic, as it marks 50 years since she was discovered while singing the national anthem at the 1974 National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma. “I can’t think of a better way to celebrate that anniversary,” McEntire said in a statement at the time of her performance announcement.

McEntire joined Post Malone and Andra Day during the Super Bowl pregame show, during which Post performed a stripped-back, acoustic version of “America the Beautiful” and Day delivered a moving rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

Stay tuned in to Billboard.com throughout Super Bowl LVIII for coverage on music moments, the best commercials, Usher’s halftime performance, Taylor Swift updates and so much more.