The NFL announced that Beyoncé will perform at the Christmas Day halftime show during the game between the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens, but the reaction from football fans has been mixed. While Beyoncé's fanbase, the Bey-Hive, is excited, many football enthusiasts expressed disinterest, preferring a performer more aligned with their tastes. Some fans also criticized Beyoncé's recent political endorsements. The Christmas Day schedule includes two NFL games, with concerns about streaming issues similar to those experienced during the recent Tyson-Paul fight on Netflix.
Celebrities and tech execs flocked to the Super Bowl at Allegiant Stadium, with Taylor Swift cheering on her boyfriend Travis Kelce, Usher headlining the halftime show alongside Alicia Keys, Jermaine Dupri, will.i.am, Lil Jon, and H.E.R, and appearances from Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Justin and Hailey Bieber, Lady Gaga, Lana Del Rey, LeBron James, Draymond Green, Gordon Ramsay, and tech exec Elon Musk.
Super Bowl LVIII had its fair share of awkward moments, including Donna Kelce sitting alone in the arena, Rob Gronkowski missing a field goal kick, Taylor Swift and Blake Lively swaying to Post Malone's performance, a commentator's comment on "celebrating America," a commentator singing along to Adele, Travis Kelce's intense moment with Chiefs coach Andy Reid, Las Vegas' use of a Blue Man Group picture, 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw's injury, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s bizarre campaign ad, Alicia Keys' imperfect opening moment at the Halftime Show, and unusual happenings during Nickelodeon's coverage of the game.
Usher headlines the Super Bowl 2024 halftime show with special guests and a mix of hits, while Taylor Swift watches her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, play for the Kansas City Chiefs. Fans express disappointment at the absence of Justin Bieber's surprise appearance. Usher's performance is praised for its entertainment value, including a guitar solo by HER and a duet with Alicia Keys. Meanwhile, a teaser for the film "The Fall Guy" featuring Ryan Gosling crying to Taylor Swift's song "All Too Well" airs during the game.
Super Bowl halftime performers, including Usher for the 2024 show, do not receive a traditional paycheck from the NFL, but instead are paid union scale, which amounts to about $1,000 a day based on the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists union's most recent contract. The NFL's long-standing policy of not paying performers has led major artists like Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Prince to perform for free or a minimal fee, as it provides them with a massive platform to showcase their music to over 100 million viewers without incurring production and travel expenses. Usher's upcoming halftime performance will serve as promotion for his world tour and new album release.
Super Bowl performers often use lip syncing to ensure flawless performances, but there are ways to tell if a singer is not singing live, such as mismatched lip movements, consistent microphone positioning, lack of vocal strain, and choreography without breathlessness. Vocal coach Justin Stoney suggests listening for imperfections in consonant sounds and notes. Various artists, including Katy Perry, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rihanna, and Beyoncé, have admitted to using backing tracks or lip syncing during their Super Bowl performances.
