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10 February 2024
(NEXSTAR) — As music superstar Usher prepares to take the stage for the Halftime Show at Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, we’re taking a look at the 45 year-old’s decades-long career — including one career move you might never even have known about.
Ever since the Dallas native made his musical debut in 1994, Usher, whose full name is Usher Raymond IV, has had his hand in acting.
He made his debut in 1998’s Robert Rodriguez-directed sci-fi horror film “The Faculty,” and he would later feature and/or star in several movies, including “She’s All That” and “Texas Rangers.” At the same time, Usher was also a recurring cast member of the hit UPN sitcom “Moesha,” where he was star Brandy’s love interest.
Usher attends the 40th Grammy Awards nominations on Jan. 6, 1998 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
But there’s one TV show Usher was a regular cast member of that you might not have heard about. It happened back in 1998, the same year he released his seven-times platinum-selling sophomore album, “My Way.”
Usher, the soap star
That’s right, Usher is technically a former soap opera star.
Though it was only a nine-episode stint, Usher was indeed credited as a regular cast member. As reported by MTV, Usher portrayed a singer named “Raymond” and his arc included performances of real-life Usher songs “My Way” and “Slow Jam.”
Usher’s character was inserted as a potential love interest for the established character Amber Moore, creating a love triangle with Amber’s boyfriend, C.J., according to Looper. Raymond and Amber’s romance was short-lived, however, and Amber married and had a baby with character Rick Forrester sometime later.
“The Bold and the Beautiful” is currently still on the air, with over 9,000 episodes produced since March 1987. “B&B,” as fans call it, is one of CBS’ two remaining soap operas, alongside the more popular “The Young and the Restless.”
Though Usher’s more recent TV and film spots have tended to feature him as himself, the singer’s wide-ranging career has earned him an estimated 344 entertainment awards, making him the 10th most-awarded recording artist in history as of 2019.
The eight-time Grammy Award winner will lead the 13-minute performance beside some still-to-be-revealed surprise musical guests. Popular theories of who might show up include Usher collaborators Alicia Keys (“My Boo”) and Ludacris and Lil Jon (“Yeah!”).
Super Bowl LVIII will be held Sunday, Feb. 11. The game begins at 6:30 p.m. ET and will air on CBS and stream live on Paramount+.