Alicia Keys is set to join longtime pal Usher onstage at his Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday.
The singer, 43, who collaborated with Usher, 45, on 2004 number one single My Boo, was spotted rehearsing with the star inside Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium on Thursday, reports TMZ.
Usher has been teasing a variety of mystery surprise guests – and is said to be in talks with Justin Bieber – and recently told People he wanted Lil Jon and Ludacris onstage with him for Yeah!
He said: ‘I would be a fool to not play Yeah! let’s just start there. It would be foolish to make it all the way to Las Vegas, Jon is here, Luda’s here and not play ‘Yeah!’
Usher who signed Bieber, now 29, to his record label in 2008 – is said to be ‘directly talking’ to the popstar after he made a return to the stage in Toronto recently amid a battle with Ramsay Hunt syndrome.
Alicia Keys is set to join longtime pal Usher onstage at his Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday (pictured 2011)
The Yeah! hitmaker, 45, will wow during a 15 minute set on Sunday
TMZ reports that nothing is confirmed as yet but Usher is keen to get Bieber on board for the spectacular.
Bieber has been ‘focusing on his health’ after suffering from facial paralysis caused by the syndrome
Justin and Usher go way back, with the legendary R&B star taking a then-14-year-old Justin under his wing in 2008 when he was on the cusp of his stratospheric rise to fame.
At the time, Usher signed him to his new joint venture, along with talent manager Scooter Braun, and the pair collaborated on Somebody to Love – the second single from Justin’s first studio album, My World 2.0.
Recounting Justin’s talent in a recent interview, the Love in This Club singer told DailyMail.com: ‘I had seen something in him that he could see himself at the time.
‘I’m more invested in our friendship than just having the dynamic to create something together.’
Usher is the big star of the Super Bowl LVIII halftime performance at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday when the San Francisco 49ers take on the Kansas City Chiefs.
Reba McEntire will sing the national anthem while Post Malone will perform America The Beautiful and Andra Day will sing Lift Every Voice And Sing as part of the pregame performances that will air on CBS.
The singer, 43, who collaborated with Usher, 45, on 2004 number one single My Boo, was spotted rehearsing with the star inside Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium on Thursday, reports TMZ
Usher is in talks with his former mentee Justin Bieber to make a surprise appearance at Sunday’s Super Bowl halftime show (pictured 2010)
TMZ reports that nothing is confirmed as yet but Usher is keen to get Bieber on board for the spectacular (pictured 2021)
Bieber has been ‘focusing on his health’ after suffering from facial paralysis caused by Ramsay Hunt Syndrome – but performed in Toronto recently
Usher signed him to his new joint venture in 2008, along with talent manager Scooter Braun, and the pair collaborated on Somebody to Love – the second single from Justin’s first studio album, My World 2.0. (pictured 2013)
Also on Thursday a promo aired for Usher’s show. It was a nod to the film The Hangover.
Usher was seen with Ludacris, Lil Jon and Taraji P. Henson to re-create the classic frat boy type film in a seven-minute clip.
It’s a busy week for the megastar, who is releasing his latest album and has announced a new North American tour.
It’s not Usher’s first time on what has become entertainment’s biggest musical stage.
He joined the Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am for his 2011 set and has said he’d use that performance as a ‘cheat sheet’ for Sunday’s show.
The Super Bowl will be held Sunday at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium, with the San Francisco 49ers facing off against the Kansas City Chiefs.
