Taylor Swift Usher Super Bowl

Photo Credit: Apple Music

Will Usher’s star power be complemented or eclipsed by Taylor Swift in the stands, should the Kansas City Chiefs make it to Super Bowl LVIII? All eyes are on the playoffs game this weekend.

Apple Music is ramping up its Super Bowl halftime sponsorship with Usher this year, with a trailer celebrating the artist’s storied career. But with NFL execs undoubtedly crossing their fingers for a Kansas City Super Bowl spot following the ratings success that has been Taylor Swift in the stands, would Usher’s star power be complemented or eclipsed by her presence?

Four more crucial playoffs remain to decide which teams will go to Super Bowl LVIII, between the Texans, Packers, Bills, Chiefs, Buccaneers, Lions, Ravens, and 49ers. While the game between the Houston Texans and the Baltimore Ravens is getting a lot of attention from fans, network executives are certainly most eager for the outcome of the match between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills.

NFL ratings have seen an eight-year high in the past few months, thanks in no small part to the presence of Taylor Swift in the luxe booth to support boyfriend and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. So a Super Bowl game featuring the Chiefs — and a supportive Swift — could spell dollar signs for the television networks.

Regardless of who makes it to the Super Bowl, the halftime show this year features Usher, and promises to celebrate his 30-year career. Apple Music has released a trailer for the event to ramp up the excitement, while NFL teams share which song from his 500-plus catalog best represents them.

The trailer showcases three decades of Usher footage set to his 2004 hit “Yeah!” with appearances from the likes of J Balvin, Jungkook, and LeBron James. Usher announced his headlining spot at the Super Bowl halftime show back in September, with a video showing him receiving a phone call from Kim Kardashian telling him the news.

“It’s an honor of a lifetime to finally check a Super Bowl performance off my bucket list,” said Usher. “I can’t wait to bring the world a show unlike anything else they’ve seen from me before.”

The show kicks off on Sunday, February 11 — a day after the release of Usher’s ninth studio album, Coming Home.