Right This Way

One of the biggest names in pop shows how to Usher in a new era of Las Vegas entertainment

Photos by Bellamy Brewster

Las Vegas was lit up bright on Super Bowl weekend — as luminaries from all over the world took over the city for the year’s biggest spectacle of sports, entertainment, and celebrity. 

Yes, there was a game — which ended up being an all-time classic — to be played at Allegiant Stadium, and the celebration of Black History Month added to the excitement. But few things rivaled the buzz created by the halftime entertainment, as superstar entertainer Usher took the stage with special guests as Lil’ Jon, Ludacris, and Alicia Keys. 

The show was filled with familiar hits from throughout Usher’s career, songs from his latest album, “Coming Home,” and roller-skating moments from his Vegas residency show. The eight-time Grammy winner, whose wildly successful 100-show Las Vegas residency has drawn international headlines, said his goal was to bring a taste of his hometown to Nevada. “I turned the Vegas V upside down,” he said, “bringing the ATL to the Silver State.” 

Usher’s love for Atlanta, however, translated well into a pride for Black Las Vegas that he has developed during his stay: he took cameras on a tour of the Historic Westside, including stops at historic Harrison House, Walker African American Museum, and much more. And away from the cameras, Usher and the mother of two of his children, Jennifer Goicoechea, married at a Las Vegas drive-thru, accompanied by close friends and family. 

With his unforgettable performance, Usher joined a list of celebrated entertainers who have played the Super Bowl halftime show — including Prince, Beyonce, Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. To mark that history, the City of Las Vegas presented Usher with a proclamation for his contributions to the Las Vegas community where he has visited and spoke to local Clark County School District students to encourage their educational journey. 

Commenting right before his performance began, Usher summed it all up: “I was very mindful of my past, celebrating my present, which is here in Las Vegas, and thinking about where we’re heading in the future.”