LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Super Bowl VXIII (that’s 58 for you non-Romans) is a few hours away, happening on Sunday, February 11, at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev., and broadcast live on CBS. Besides the inevitable disappointment from the three-hour litany of very expensive yet mostly underwhelming commercials, most non-football fans tune in for the halftime show, which for Super Bowl 2024 features veteran R&B and pop star Usher or “Ursher” as he is known to fans.

You can watch Usher’s halftime show live for free on either FuboTV or DirecTV Stream which each offer a free trial to new subscribers. Also, Sling TV has promotional offers.

This year marks three decades since a then 16-year-old Usher Raymond IV released his eponymously titled debut album. The album was a disappointment sales-wise, but the young Texas-born, Atlanta-based singer didn’t have to live with that disappointment for long. His sophomore effort, “My Way,” from 1997, shot him to the upper echelons of the R&B and pop charts with hits like “You Make Me Wanna…” and “Nice & Slow.” From there, Usher had more than a decade of bestselling albums and singles, many of which will hopefully be played — or at least referenced — in his Super Bowl set.

Some folks will surely be disappointed Sunday if they only get to see Taylor Swift cheering in the luxury box and not performing onstage. (You know, she gets to take a day off and watch her boyfriend be awesome at his job, right?) But Usher will be fine. He has 30 years in popular music and a catalog of hits that will surely fill those precious 13 half-time minutes that annually garner one of the biggest audiences on television.

Coincidentally (for you folks born yesterday), Usher released his ninth studio album, called “Coming Home,” album, on Friday, Feb. 9.

He has also announced his “Past Present Future Tour,” which begins on August 20-21 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. and wraps up with a three-night run on October 28-29 and Oct. 31 at Chicago’s United Center. No Cleveland date has been announced yet but the tour stops Sept. 12-13 at Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 12, via livenation.com.

WHAT WILL USHER PERFORM?

Usher recently wrapped up a sold-out 100-date residency in Las Vegas, which began in 2021 at Ceaser’s, but after 18 shows had to be moved to the larger room at the Park MGM to accommodate more of his ardent (and lady-centric) fanbase. Though plenty of fans missed the show, there have been several viral videos of Usher “getting close” with some of his celebrity guests, including Kim Kardashian,

With that in mind, it’s safe to assume that Usher’s 13-minute set will stick to the bangers and perhaps one or two guests. Generally, ballads are kept to a minimum at half time, but Usher’s hits include several slow jams and funky downtempo tunes such as “You Make Me Wanna…,” “Confessions II” “There Goes My Baby,” and “U Remind Me,” that are easy go-to’s for what will likely include a supersized medley.

Let’s be honest: if Lil’ Jon doesn’t show up on the field at some point, it will be a major disappointment and an opportunity wasted. I vote for the Atlanta producer to be lowered from the rafters of Allegiant Stadium in an oversized, bedazzled and bejeweled pimp chalice, yelling his signature “OH-KAY!!!” Lil’ Jon’s presence would ensure we get a hyped version of the strip and dance club staple “Yeah!”

With the crowd fully hyped, the pair could slow things down with “Lovers & Friends,” the hit by Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz, featuring Usher and Ludacris.

Speaking of possible guests, the list is lengthy; Chris Brown could show up for their duet “Party,” Nikki Minaj may want to remind folks she has a recent album, “Pink Friday 2,″ by spitting her verse on “Lil Freak.” Perhaps Alicia Keys will show up for “My Boo,” but that may be one too many slow jams.

Besides “Yeah,” other likely uptempo tunes include the synthpop single “Scream” (have to keep all those dancers busy) and the pulsing Top 5 hit with David Guetta’s “Without You” and “U Don’t Have To Call.” K-pop superstars may not have quite the buzz they had a few years ago, but Usher appears on the funky disco-flavored single “Standing Next To You” by BTS member Junkook, which could produce a fun dance duel between the two lithe and flexible pop stars and give the set another uptempo song.

Let us not forget that Usher is in comeback mode and will have a brand new album out, so fans should also expect to hear at least one of the two singles, either the ballad “Good Good” featuring (possible guests) rapper 21 Savage and singer Summer Walker, released last summer, or the gently bouncing new single “Ruin,” featuring Nigerian rapper-singer-songwriter-producer Pheelz, released just last week.

With new business taken care of, it should be hit after hit, no doubt accompanied by vigorous, anaerobic dancing from the 45-year-old and his cadre of dancers. Also, somewhere deep in the NFL half-time charter is a requirement for some sort of pyro display, which would easily set up cool visuals for the ballad “Burn.”

Usher has plenty of hits from which to choose, but it will take some setlist engineering to keep the overall tempo of his 13 minutes from dwelling a bit too long in Slow Jam Land. Here’s hoping for an extended remix and 13 solid minutes of “Yeah.” The world needs more Lil’ Jon.

Usher is free from his successful residency, will have a brand new album out and is unlikely to show up on the field pregnant, so fans should simply enjoy the show and wait to see him on the road on his Past Preset Future Tour.

Oh, and go Niners!