From the Winning Touchdown to Usher, Here Are the Top Moments That Had Us Saying ‘Yeah!’ at Super Bowl LVIII

Super Bowl LVIII was one for the books. Hosted in Las Vegas, the Kansas City Chiefs—led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes—played against the San Francisco 49ers.

Besides the trophy itself, at stake was Mahomes cementing his legacy. As of late, discussions surrounding the longevity of his career have encapsulated whether or not he would eclipse football legend Tom Brady and become this generation’s G.O.A.T. On the other hand, this game had the potential to end the 49er’s almost 30-year Super Bowl drought and take home a win. 

Whether or not the Super Bowl lived up to fans’ expectations, the riveting game itself and halftime performance left us wanting more with fun tidbits in between. No matter how it all ended, we can’t help but anticipate which teams and artists will grace the grand gridiron years to come.  

Did you skip out on watching? Overly indulge during a watch party and miss key details? Couldn’t see the field from the cheap seats at Allegiant Stadium? Here are some of the best moments from Super Bowl LVIII:

Andra Day’s Rendition of the Black National Anthem Sets the Tone

One of the most cherished new additions to the Super Bowl lineup is the performance of the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” As the game is typically held during February—also celebrated as Black History Month— its inclusion resonates deeply with diverse audiences. “Rise Up” songstress Andra Day held the honor of showcasing her own soulful rendition at the start of the event. Later, Grammy-nominated artist Post Malone performed “America the Beautiful” and Reba McEntire performed the National Anthem. 

Usher Put on For the “A” and His Legacy 

Atlanta’s own “Superstar” Usher marked his 30th anniversary in the industry with a phenomenal Halftime performance. After closing his 100-show residency in Las Vegas in 2023 and dropping a new album days ago, the cosmos aligned perfectly for Usher to have all the love he deserves.

With his never-ending catalog, many speculated on Usher’s opening song for his 15-minute set for weeks leading up to this day. This is likely why the Super Bowl granted him an unprecedented extra two minutes for this particular performance. 

Kicking off his set with “Caught Up” and seamlessly closing with “Yeah!,” he commanded the stage with nothing but jam-packed hits. He also incorporated Alicia Keys, Jermaine Dupri, H.E.R, Will.i.am, Lil Jon and Ludacris into the show. This moment reminded us not only why his residency was sold out (his upcoming tour will be no different) but that he’s undisputably the “King of R&B.”

Beyoncé Reminds Us She is Out of This World

Queen Bey strikes again! While in attendance with her family, fans had no idea she would “make the world stop” again with forthcoming announcements. In a collaborative commercial with Verizon, she highlighted the impact of her influence in a cheeky parallel to the technology brand’s product efficiency. But as we know, everything she does is with intention, including the phrase “Okay, now drop the new music” at the end of the commercial. While we were eagerly awaiting her next move, news broke that her long-awaited act ii would be released on March 29.  On her website, she unveiled a tracklist featuring country-coded singles “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages.” 

NFL Spotlights Ghana to Emphasize International Inclusivity in the Sport

It wouldn’t be the Super Bowl without extravagant commercials representing a variance of major brands and causes.

Notably, the NFL took to Ghana to showcase the power of diversity within the game of football around the world. Players Saquon Barkley, Justin Jefferson and Fred Warner were featured in the two-minute commercial. The NFL’s latest initiative has been created to help expand the league’s global talent and presence by tapping into alternative markets. “The momentum around the global expansion of American football is real and exciting. Our intent is to embrace and celebrate this movement through powerful communication on our biggest stage, focusing on the growth of both flag and tackle football,” said NFL Chief Marketing Officer, Tim Ellis.

Separately, familiar faces like LL Cool J, Quinta Brunson, and Cynthia Erivo also graced our screens, representing brands like Coors Light and Turbo Tax and premiering a trailer for the movie adaptation of the musical Wicked. Organizations also chose this occasion to bring attention to initiatives they hope to garner public support for.  

The Final Score

Arguably, the biggest moment of all was the Kansas City Chiefs winning it all in an exhilarating overtime. For the third time in four years, the team won the landmark game. This is also the first time in 20 years that a team has won back-to-back championships since Tom Brady’s tenure with the New England Patriots. With a score of 25 to 22, the Chiefs showed why they deserved to compete. Further exemplifying this point, Patrick Mahomes was this year’s MVP, winning for the third time.

The post From the Winning Touchdown to Usher, Here Are the Top Moments That Had Us Saying ‘Yeah!’ at Super Bowl LVIII appeared first on EBONY.