Prince performs at half time during Super Bowl XLI between the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears … [+]
Super Bowl Sunday is nearly here and the yearly halftime show has become just as big of an event as the game itself.
Super Bowl LIX, of course, will pit the NFL’s defending Super Bowl champion—the AFC’s Kansas City Chiefs—against the NFC’s Philadelphia Eagles in a rematch of 2023’s NFL championship game. The Eagles and Chiefs, however, will be vying for attention once this year’s halftime performer, Kendrick Lamar, headlines the show with special guest SZA.
Oddly enough, the Super Bowl Halftime Show hasn’t always been the spectacle that it has become today. From Super Bowl I in 1967 to Super Bowl XXIV in 1990, the halftime entertainment largely consisted of college marching bands, per USA Today, with an occasional music icon like Ella Fitzgerald or Chubby Checker stepping in to join them. Otherwise, the music at halftime was something akin to something you’d hear at a pep rally.
The marching band halftime entertainment idea began to phase out in the early 1990s as acts like the New Kids on the Block in 1991 and Gloria Estefan started to share the spotlight with the brass, woodwind and percussion players, as well as the baton twirlers and drum majors. By 1993, marching bands in Super Bowl halftime shows all but became ancient history—with the occasional exception where the band accompanied the headliner.
Pictured below are some of the biggest Super Bowl Halftime Show performers, per the NFL’s Super Bowl Halftime performers page, to grace the stage in the past three and a half decades.
1990s
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 31: Michael Jackson performs during halftime of a 52-17 Dallas Cowboys win … [+]
1993 (Super Bowl XXVII – Dallas Cowboys 52, Buffalo Bills 17)
The King of Pop—Michael Jackson—became the first solo performer to play a Super Bowl Halftime Show on Jan. 31, 1993 at Super Bowl XXVII at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. During the show, Jackson performed such hits as Billie Jean, Black or White and Heal the World.
ATLANTA, GA – 1994: Country singers, Wynonna Judd (left) and her mother Naomi Judd, perform during … [+]
1994 (Super Bowl XXVIII – Dallas Cowboys 30, Buffalo Bills 13)
The music at the NFL’s biggest game of the year went from pop to country at the Super Bowl XXVIII Halftime Show on Jan. 30, 1994, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, when Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt and The Judds—Wynonna and Naomi—took stage.
Black played Tuckered Out, while Tucker performed A Little Too Late and Tritt played T-R-O-U-B-L-E. Winona Judd then played No One Else on Earth, while The Judds wrapped up the Super Bowl Halftime Show with Love Can Build a Bridge.
MIAMI, FL – JANUARY 29: US Singers Tony Bennett (L) and Patti LaBelle perform 29 January 1995 … [+]
1995 (Super Bowl XXIX- San Francisco 49ers, San Diego Chargers 26)
Tony Bennett, Patti LaBelle, Teddy Pendergrass, Arturo Sandoval and the Miami Sound Machine played the Super Bowl XXIX Halftime Show on Jan. 29, 1995, at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami. Among the song highlights, Bennett and LaBelle performed Can You Feel the Love Tonight as a duet and all of the artists sang Caravan together.
TEMPE, AZ – JANUARY 28: Diana Ross preforms during haft time of Super Bowl XXX between the Dallas … [+]
1996 (Super Bowl XXX- Dallas Cowboys 27, Pittsburgh Steelers 17)
Motown icon Diana Ross performed solo at the Super Bowl XXX show on Jan. 28, 1996, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.
Ross performed several songs from her days with The Supremes in her 10-song set, including Stop in the Name of the Love, You Keep Me Hangin’ On, Baby Love, You Can’t Hurry Love and Why Do Fools Fall in Love.
NEW ORLEANS – JANUARY 26: The Blues Brothers perform onstage at the Louisiana Superdome during the … [+]
Dan Aykroyd, James Brown, Frank Beard, Dusty Hill and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top at the 1997 Superbowl … [+]
1997 (Super Bowl XXXI- Green Bay Packers 35, New England Patriots 21)
The Blues Brothers—Dan Aykroyd, John Goodman and Jim Belushi—brought the blues to the Super Bowl XXXI Halftime Show at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans on Jan. 26, 1997, along with special guest James Brown and ZZ Top.
Among the tunes, The Blues Brothers sang Soul Man, while Brown sang I Got You (I Feel Good). ZZ Top, meanwhile performed Tush, Legs and Gimme All Your Lovin’.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA—JANUARY 25: Queen Latifah ( aka Dana Owens), Smokey Robinson, Martha Reeves … [+]
1998 (Super Bowl XXXII – Denver Broncos 31, Green Bay Packers 24)
The NFL celebrated 40 Years of Motown at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego on Jan. 25, 1998. The Super Bowl XXXII Halftime Show featured Motown legends Smokey Robinson, Martha and the Vandellas (feauturing Martha Reeves) and The Temptations, who were joined by modern Motown hitmakers Queen Latifah and Boyz II Men.
Among the hits performed were Get Ready and I Can’t Help Myself by The Temptations, The Tracks of My Tears by Smokey Robinson, Heat Wave by Martha and the Vandellas, Paper by Queen Latifah, Motownphilly by Boyz II Men and Dancin’ in the Streets by all of the artists.
Musician Stevie Wonder and Gloria Estefan performing at Superbowl XXXIII Halftime on January 31, … [+]
1999 (Super Bowl XXXIII – Denver Broncos 34, Atlanta Falcons 19)
More legends assembled for the Super Bowl XXXIII Halftime Show on Jan. 31, 1999, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami. Stevie Wonder, Gloria Estefan and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy played their hits while Savion Glover put his tap dancing skills on dispaly.
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy played Go Daddy O, while Wonder sang some of his song classics including Sir Duke and You Are the Sunshine of My Life. Estefan’s song performances, meanwhile, including Oye! and Turn the Beat Around.
2000s
ATLANTA, UNITED STATES: Singers Christina Aguilera (R) and Enrique Iglesias (L) perform during the … [+]
2000 (Super Bowl XXXIV – St. Louis Rams 23, Tennessee Titans 16)
Christina Aguilera and Enrique Iglesias were joined by Phil Collins and Toni Braxton for the Super Bowl XXXIV Halftime Show on Jan. 30, 2000, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
Aguilera and Iglesias performed Celebrate the Future Hand in Hand, while Collins sang Two Worlds and Braxton sang We Go On. Actor Edward James Olmos also served as a narrator for the halftime show, which was dubbed Tapestry of Nations.
384856 27: “NSYNC, Aerosmith and Britney Spears all perform during the halftime show for Super Bowl … [+]
2001 (Super Bowl XXXV – Baltimore Ravens 34, New York Giants 7)
Aerosmith and NSYNC were joined by Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige and Nelly for the Super Bowl XXXV Halftime Show, which was held at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
Aerosmith performed Don’t Want to Miss a Thing and Jaded, while NYSNC sang Bye Bye Bye and It’s Gonna Be Me. Spears, Blige and Nelly joined NSYNC and Aerosmith to sing the latter’s classic hit Walk This Way.
U2 performs during the halftime show at Super Bowl XXXVI in the Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana, … [+]
2002 (Super Bowl XXXVI – New England Patriots 23, St. Louis Rams 17)
U2 played a solo set at the Super Bowl XXXVI Halftime Show at the Louisiana Super Dome on Feb. 3, 2002. The classic rockers performed Beautiful Day, MLK and Where the Streets Have No Name during the halftime set.
SAN DIEGO – JANUARY 26: Singer Gwen Stefani of No Doubt and Sting perform during the halftime show … [+]
Shania Twain during Super Bowl XXXVII – AT&T Wireless Super Bowl XXXVII Halftime Show at Qualcomm … [+]
2003 (Super Bowl XXXVII- Tampa Bay Buccaneers 48, Oakland Raiders 21)
Shania Twain and No Doubt headlined the Super Bowl XXXVII at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego on Jan. 26, 2003, where they were joined by special guest Sting. Among Twain’s songs were Man! I Feel Like a Woman and Up! and No Doubt sang Just a Girl. Sting joined No Doubt for a cover of The Police’s classic Message in a Bottle.
HOUSTON, UNITED STATES: Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake perform at half-time at Super Bowl … [+]
2004 (Super Bowl XXXVIII – New England Patriots 32, Carolina Panthers 29)
Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson were on the roster of performers for the Super Bowl XXXVIII Halftime Show at Reliant Stadium in Houston, where the two became embroiled in the infamous “Wardrobe Malfunction” controversy during their duet performance of Rock Your Body. Also featured during the halftime show set were Jessica Simpson, P. Diddy, Nelly and Kid Rock.
Other performances during the set included Jackson singing Rhythm Nation, Kid Rock performing Cowboy, P. Diddy performing Bad Boy For Life and Nelly performing Hot in Herre.
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 06: Singer Paul McCartney performs during the Super Bowl XXXIX … [+]
2005 (Super Bowl XXXIX – New England Patriots 24, Carolina Panthers 21)
The NFL played it safe after the Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake controversy in 2004 and went with former Beatle Paul McCartney to perform solo at the Super Bowl XXXIX Halftime Show at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla., on Feb. 6, 2005.
McCartney’s set included a mixture of his Beatles and solo hits, including Drive My Car, Get Back, Live and Let Die and Hey Jude.
DETROIT – FEBRUARY 5: (L-R) Musicians Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Charlie Watts of … [+]
2006 (Super Bowl XL – Pittsburgh Steelers 21, Seattle Seahawks 10)
The Rolling Stones—Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts—rolled into Ford Field in Detroit on Feb. 5, 2008, to play the Super Bowl XL Halftime Show. The Rolling Stones played a three-song set consisting of Start Me Up, Rough Justice and (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.
MIAMI GARDENS, FL – FEBRUARY 04: Prince performs during the ‚Pepsi Halftime Show‘ at Super Bowl XLI … [+]
2007 Super Bowl XLI – Indianapolis Colts 29, Chicago Bears 17)
Prince held court in a solo outing at the Super Bowl XLI Halftime Show on Feb. 4, 2007, at Dolphin Stadium in Miami. The Purple One played an eight-song set, which included his hits Let’s Go Crazy, 1999 and Purple Rain.
GLENDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 03: MusicianTom Petty and The Heartbereakers perform during the … [+]
2008 (Super Bowl XLII -New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14)
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers played a solo outing at the Super Bowl XLII Halftime Show on Feb. 3, 2008, at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Petty’s halftime set included four songs: American Girl, I Won’t Back Down, Free Fallin’ and Runnin’ Down a Dream.
TAMPA, FL – FEBRUARY 01: Musician Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band perform at the … [+]
2009 (Super Bowl XLIII – Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Arizona Cardinals 23)
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band rocked out Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. for the Super Bowl XLIII Halftime Show on Feb. 1, 2009. Springsteen played four of his famous tunes, including Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out, Born to Run, Working on a Dream and Glory Days.
2010s
MIAMI GARDENS, FL – FEBRUARY 07: (L-R) Musicians Roger Daltrey, Zak Starkey and Pete Townshend of … [+]
2010 (Super Bowl XLIV – New Orleans Saints 31, Indianapolis Colts 17)
The Who—Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend—with Ringo Starr’s son, Zak Starkey, on drums played the Super Bowl XLIV Halftime Show at Sun Life Stadium in Miami on Feb. 7, 2010. Among the songs in The Who’s five-song set were Pinball Wizard, Baba O’Reilly and Won’t Get Fooled Again.
ARLINGTON, TX – FEBRUARY 06: Fergie, apl.de.ap, will.i.am and Taboo of The Black Eyed Peas perform … [+]
2011 (Super Bowl XLV – Green Bay Packers 31, Pittsburgh Steelers 25)
The Black Eyed Peas—Fergie, will.i.am, apl.de.ap and Taboo—were joined by special guests Usher and Slash for the group’s Super Bowl XLV Halftime Show on Feb. 6, 2011, at Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The eight-song set included the Black Eyed Peas’ hits I Gotta Feeling and Pump It, while Fergie joined Slash for a rendtion of Sweet Child O’ Mine and will.i.am teamed with Usher for OMG.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 05: Madonna performs during the Bridgestone Super Bowl XLVI Halftime … [+]
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 05: Nicki Minaj, Madonna and MIA perform during the Bridgestone Super … [+]
2012 (Super Bowl XLVI – New York Giants 21, New England Patriots 17)
Madonna played the Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Show on Feb. 5, 2012, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, where she was joined by Nicki Minaj, M.I.A., LMFAO and Cee Lo Green.
Madonna’s halftime set included Vogue, Music/Party Rock/Sexy and I Know It with LMFAO, Give Me All Your Lovin’ with Minaj and M.I.A. and Open Your Heart/Express Yourself and Like a Prayer with Green.
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 03: Singers Kelly Rowland, Beyonce and Michelle Williams of Destiny’s … [+]
2013 (Super Bowl XLVII – Baltimore Raves 34, San Francisco 49ers 31)
Beyoncé was the headliner of the Super Bowl XLII Halftime Show Feb. 3, 2013 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, but she had familiar company with her fellow Destiny’s Child singers Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams.
Beyonce’s set was made up of some of her solo hits and Destiny’s Child songs, including Crazy in Love, End of Time, Baby Boy and Bootylicious.
Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers perform during the Super Bowl 48 halftime show at MetLife … [+]
2014 (Super Bowl XLVIII – Seattle Seahawks 43, Denver Broncos 8)
Bruno Mars was the headliner for the Super Bowl XLVIII Halftime Show on Feb. 2, 2014, at Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., and was joined by the Red Hot Chili Peppers as a guest act.
Mars’ set included his tunes Treasure, Runaway Baby and Just the Way You Are, and he joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers for the band’s hit Give it Away.
GLENDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 01: Singer Katy Perry performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl XLIX Halftime … [+]
GLENDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 01: Katy Perry and Missy Elliott performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl XLIX … [+]
2015 (Super Bowl XLVIX – New England Patriots 28, Seattle Seahawks 24)
Katie Perry headlined the Super Bowl XLVIX Halftime Show on Feb. 1, 2015, at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., where she was joined by special guests Lenny Kravitz and Missy Elliott.
Perry’s set included Roar, Teenage Dream and Firework, and Kravitz joined her for I Kissed a Girl. Elliott also teamed with Perry for Get Ur Freak On and Work It, and Elliott also performed her hit Lose Control.
SANTA CLARA, CA – FEBRUARY 07: Beyonce, Chris Martin of Coldplay and Bruno Mars perform during the … [+]
2016 (Super Bowl L – Denver Broncos 24, Carolina Panthers 10)
Coldplay was the headliner for the Super Bowl L Halftime Show on Feb. 7, 2016, at Levi’s Stadim in Santa Clara, Calif.
Coldplay’s songs during the set included Viva la Vida and Paradise, while special guests Beyoncé, Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson joined forces to perform Uptown Funk/Formation. Coldplay also teamed with Beyoncé and Bruno Mars for Fix You Up/Up & Up.
HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 05: Lady Gaga performs during the Pepsi Zero Sugar Super Bowl 51 Halftime … [+]
2017 (Super Bowl LI – New England Patriots 34, Atlanta Falcons 28)
Lady Gaga was a solo performer at the Super Bowl LI Halftime Show at NRG Stadium on Feb. 5, 2017. Lady Gaga’s nine song set included her hits Poker Face, Born This Way and Bad Romance.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – FEBRUARY 04: Recording artist Justin Timberlake performs onstage during the Pepsi … [+]
2018 (Super Bowl LII – Philadelphia Eagles 41, New England Patriots 33, Atlanta Falcons 28)
Fifteen years after the “Wardrobe Malfunction” incident with Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake played the Super Bowl LII Halftime Show at U.S. Bank in Minneapolis, but this time solo. Timberlake played an 11-song set, which included his hits Rock Your Body, SexyBack, and Can’t Stop the Feeling!
Timberlake’s appearance also included a video tribute to late Minnesota music icon Prince with I Would Die 4 U, who died at age 57 in 2016.
ATLANTA, GA – FEBRUARY 3: Maroon 5 featuring Travis Scott and Big Boi performs during Pepsi Super … [+]
2019 (Super Bowl LIII – New England Patriots 13, Los Angles Rams 3)
Maroon 5 headlined the Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where they were joined by guest Travis Scott and Big Boi.
The nine-song set included the Maroon 5 hits Harder to Breathe, Girls Like You and Moves Like Jagger, while Travis Scott performed Sicko Mode and Big Boi performed Kryptonite (I’m On It) and The Way You Move.
2020s
MIAMI, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 02: Shakira and Jennifer Lopez performs onstage during the Pepsi Super … [+]
2020 (Super Bowl LIV – Kansas City Chiefs 31, San Francisco 49ers 20)
Shakira and Jennifer Lopez were the co-headliners at hte Super Bowl LIV Haltime Show on Feb. 2, 2020, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, where they were joined by special guests Bad Bunny, J Balvin and Emme Muñiz.
The massive song set, made up singles and medleys, including Shakira’s hits Dare (La La La) and She Wolf, while Lopez sang Jenny from the Block and Waiting for Tonight. Bad Bunny, J Balvin and Muñiz joined either Shakira or Lopez for various song medleys, and Shakira and Lopez also teamed for Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).
TAMPA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 04: In this image released on February 7th, The Weeknd rehearses for the … [+]
2021 (Super Bowl LV – Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31, Kansas City Chiefs 9)
The Weeknd was a solo act at the Super Bowl LV Halftime Show on Feb. 4, 2021, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. The Weeknd performed a nine-song set for the halftime show, which included his hits Call Out My Name, Starboy, Can’t Feel My Face and Blinding Lights.
US rapper Eminem, US rapper Dr. Dre, US rapper Kendrick Lamar, US rapper Curtis „50 cent“ Jackson, … [+]
2022 (Super Bowl LVI – Los Angeles Rams 23, Cincinnati Bengals 20)
Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar assembled for an 11-song set at Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Feb. 13, 2022.
Joined by 50 Cent and Anderson.Paak, the set included performances of California Love (performed by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg), Family Affair (Blige), M.A.A.D City (Lamar), Lose Yourself (Eminem and Anderson.Paak) and In da Club (50 Cent). In addition, most of the group’s members assembled to perform Still D.R.E.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 12: Rihanna performs during Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show … [+]
2023 (Super Bowl LVII – Kansas City Chiefs 38, Philadelphia Eagles 35)
Rihanna was the sole performer at the Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show on Feb. 12, 2023, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Rihanna’s mammoth 14-song set included her hits Rude Boy, Work, Pour it Up and Diamonds.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 11: (L-R) Usher and Alicia Keys perform onstage during the Apple Music … [+]
Usher is joined on stage by Ludacris, Alicia Keys, H.E.R., Lil Jo, will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas … [+]
2023 (Super Bowl LVIII – Kansas City Chiefs 25, San Francisco 49ers 22)
Usher was the headliner for the Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, on Feb. 11, 2024. During the performance, Usher was joined by special guests Alica Keys, Jermaine Dupri, H.E.R., will.i.am, Lil Jon and Ludacris.
The 11-song halftime show set included the hits Caught Up and Burn (performed by Usher), My Boo and If I Ain’t Got You (Usher and Keys), OMG (Usher and will.i.am), Turn Down for What (Usher and Lil Jon) and Yeah! (Usher, Lil Jon and Ludacris).
Super Bowl LIX—featuring a halftime performance by Kendrick Lamar and SZA—is Sunday.
