Taraji P. Henson received the full Usher experience during the latest stop of his tour with Chris Brown.
During Saturday’s (Sept. 5) R&B Tour performance at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Usher invited the Empire actress onstage and serenaded her with his 2004 track, “Can U Handle It?”
Henson appeared to enjoy every moment, smiling and blushing as the R&B star performed directly to her. At one point, Usher even lifted her off the ground, as seen in video shared by The Shade Room.
The interaction quickly had fans talking online.
Several people joked about what Jody, Tyrese Gibson’s character from Baby Boy, would think of the serenade, while others brought up Henson’s Empire character, Cookie Lyon. Fans also showered the actress with love and praised her cropped hairstyle.
Usher regularly brings women onstage during The R&B Tour, though not every interaction has gone as smoothly as Taraji P. Henson’s.
During the tour’s July 25 stop at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, Usher invited a fan named Gabrielle Cheyenne onstage. After she appeared uncomfortable with the attention, Usher brought the interaction to an early end.
“I don’t think she wants to be on the stage,” he said before the moment concluded. Video of the encounter later went viral online.
Henson, however, is no stranger to being the center of an Usher serenade. The actress previously joined him onstage during his Las Vegas residency. Other celebrities who have received similar treatment from Usher over the years include Keke Palmer, Doja Cat, Saweetie, and Gabrielle Union.
Saturday’s concert was the first of three scheduled R&B Tour shows at Allegiant Stadium this month.
Usher and Brown return to the Las Vegas venue on Sunday before performing there again on Sept. 18. The co-headlining tour is scheduled to continue through December 2026.
