Usher was one of the opening day performers this year’s Dreamville Festival — and he pulled off the ultimate April Fools prank (not) featuring Beyoncé.
In a video posted on Saturday (April 1) — the day of his headline performance at Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh, North Carolina — the R&B crooner announced to the audience that he had “a surprise for you tonight, ladies and gentlemen.”
“You guys want to know what that surprise is?” he teased as the audience cheers grew louder. “Ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, put your hands together for the one, the only — Beyoncé.”
As the audience screamed, perhaps thinking they’d be witnessing a live performance of the pair’s early 2000s hit, “Bad Girl,” Usher made a hand motion as if to welcome Beyoncé onto the stage.
When Queen Bey failed to materialize, and the audience noise died down, Usher returned to the mic and snarked “April Fools!” with an impish grin.
Check out the footage below:
Naturally, it didn’t take long for his Instagram post to light up with comments, with Oscar-winning actor Halle Berry even dropping a few laughing-face emojis.
Others remarked that the “Confessions” singer put on such an amazing set at the festival that “the crowd [was] not to be pressed about this!! One of one.”
Though Usher fans didn’t get a chance to see the “Drunk in Love” singer perform live, they’re often treated to their favorite crooner giving flowers to many a powerful woman in the industry.
Last March, Usher stopped his Vegas show to give Queen Latifah her flowers — and he did it both literally and figuratively.
The New Jersey rap legend attended Usher’s concert at the Dolby Live at Park MGM on March 18, which also happened to be Latifah’s 53rd birthday.
The rapper/actor received a birthday gift in front of thousands of fans as Usher made his way into the audience and gave her a hug, as seen in a video posted on his Instagram Stories.
The Native Tongues member could be seen holding a bouquet of roses as her 1993 hit “U.N.I.T.Y.” played throughout the venue’s speakers. The audience cheered the embrace, with Latifah thanking the crowd for their warm reception.