Usher puts Taraji P. Henson in the spotlight during Las Vegas tour stop
TheGrio...
Usher surprises Taraji P. Henson onstage in Las Vegas, serenading the actress during The R&B Tour and sparking a playful viral moment.
Taraji P. Henson became an unexpected star of the show when Usher pulled her from the audience during his Las Vegas performance Saturday night, turning one of his signature serenades into a memorable celebrity cameo.
The “Empire” actress was attending The R&B Tour stop at Allegiant Stadium on Sept. 5 when Usher invited her onto the stage. He performed his 2004 song “Can U Handle It?” directly to Henson, who appeared visibly amused and caught up in the moment as the singer turned up the flirtatious energy.
At one point, Usher lifted Henson off the ground, prompting an especially animated reaction from the actress. Video of the encounter quickly circulated online, with fans focusing as much on Henson’s expressions as Usher’s performance.
The Shade Room, which first highlighted the viral footage, framed Henson’s reaction as the night’s standout celebrity moment.
The moment landed particularly well with social media users familiar with Henson’s most recognizable roles. Some jokingly brought up Cookie Lyon, her character from “Empire,” while others referenced Yvette, the character she played in the 2001 film “Baby Boy.” The reactions turned the brief concert appearance into a wider pop-culture conversation.
Henson wasn’t the only surprise element surrounding the tour. Usher and Chris Brown’s co-headlining R&B Tour has been drawing attention for its elaborate performances and celebrity-filled stops.
The Las Vegas run is particularly substantial, with the duo scheduled for multiple shows at Allegiant Stadium. The venue lists additional performances for Sept. 6 and Sept. 18.
For Henson, however, Saturday’s show offered something considerably more personal than a seat in the crowd. She went from audience member to part of Usher’s performance, and judging from the footage, she played along with every second of it.
The viral moment has since become one of the more talked-about celebrity cameos from the tour, proving once again that an Usher concert can turn an ordinary night in the audience into a story of its own.