The halftime show is one of the most iconic moments of the Super Bowl. Many people tune in to
the Super Bowl just for the halftime shows. The Halftime Show ranges greatly from different
types of genres including rock and roll, rap, funk, and pop. For artists, it is a great honor to play
at the Super Bowl.
The shows these artists produce are all-out. Light shows, back up dancers, and other
featured artists are common in the shows, and all add up to the grandeur of the shows.
When it debuted in 1967, the halftime shows featured, among other things,
the University of Arizona Symphonic Marching Band performing “The Sound of Music” and
“When the Saints Go Marching In” — stuff you might hear at any ordinary college football
game in the late ’60s. As the years went on, however, it expanded — but it wasn’t quite A-
list. Mid-game breaks featured everything from an Elvis Presley-impersonating magician
(Elvis Presto, obviously) to the New Mouseketeers.
5: Coldplay, Beyonce, and Bruno Mars (2016)
When they debuted as an alt-rock act in 2000 with “Yellow,” it was unthinkable that
Coldplay would eventually ascend to Super Bowl status. Well, over the years, the band took
over the planet with its introspective soft rock, and before headlining Super Bowl 50, the
group added some dance grooves to its music and colors to its palette with the A Head Full of
Dreams LP.
The brand new, Technicolor Coldplay was on full display at Super Bowl 50, but more
importantly, they invited two incredible artists to make things iconic. Bruno Mars and
Beyoncé brought then-new hits “Uptown Funk!” and “Formation,” respectively, and the
ensuing showdown between their dance troupes was irresistible. Major kudos to Coldplay for
letting two other artists steal the band’s own halftime show.
4: Rihanna (2023)
When Rihanna hit the (levitating) stage at Super Bowl 2023, she hadn’t released an
album in seven years or performed onstage in five years. The busy Barbadian pop star had
been focusing her energy on building out her Fenty Beauty empire (not to mention becoming
a mother), so it was no huge surprise that fashion felt as intrinsic to her halftime set as sound.
That rubbed a few folks the wrong way (not everyone is a fan of marshmallow puffers,
apparently), but it shouldn’t have – Rihanna brought exactly the right amount of
professionalism and rock star energy. This became the most viewed halftime show ever.
3: The Rolling Stones (2006)
No gimmicks, just good old fashioned rock n’ roll. The Rolling Stones kept it simple
and classic with their turn on the Super Bowl stage, which was made to look like a gigantic
version of the band’s iconic emblem — a pair of red lips with a tongue sticking out — for the
the Super Bowl just for the halftime shows. The Halftime Show ranges greatly from different
types of genres including rock and roll, rap, funk, and pop. For artists, it is a great honor to play
at the Super Bowl.
The shows these artists produce are all-out. Light shows, back up dancers, and other
featured artists are common in the shows, and all add up to the grandeur of the shows.
When it debuted in 1967, the halftime shows featured, among other things,
the University of Arizona Symphonic Marching Band performing “The Sound of Music” and
“When the Saints Go Marching In” — stuff you might hear at any ordinary college football
game in the late ’60s. As the years went on, however, it expanded — but it wasn’t quite A-
list. Mid-game breaks featured everything from an Elvis Presley-impersonating magician
(Elvis Presto, obviously) to the New Mouseketeers.
5: Coldplay, Beyonce, and Bruno Mars (2016)
When they debuted as an alt-rock act in 2000 with “Yellow,” it was unthinkable that
Coldplay would eventually ascend to Super Bowl status. Well, over the years, the band took
over the planet with its introspective soft rock, and before headlining Super Bowl 50, the
group added some dance grooves to its music and colors to its palette with the A Head Full of
Dreams LP.
The brand new, Technicolor Coldplay was on full display at Super Bowl 50, but more
importantly, they invited two incredible artists to make things iconic. Bruno Mars and
Beyoncé brought then-new hits “Uptown Funk!” and “Formation,” respectively, and the
ensuing showdown between their dance troupes was irresistible. Major kudos to Coldplay for
letting two other artists steal the band’s own halftime show.
4: Rihanna (2023)
When Rihanna hit the (levitating) stage at Super Bowl 2023, she hadn’t released an
album in seven years or performed onstage in five years. The busy Barbadian pop star had
been focusing her energy on building out her Fenty Beauty empire (not to mention becoming
a mother), so it was no huge surprise that fashion felt as intrinsic to her halftime set as sound.
That rubbed a few folks the wrong way (not everyone is a fan of marshmallow puffers,
apparently), but it shouldn’t have – Rihanna brought exactly the right amount of
professionalism and rock star energy. This became the most viewed halftime show ever.
3: The Rolling Stones (2006)
No gimmicks, just good old fashioned rock n’ roll. The Rolling Stones kept it simple
and classic with their turn on the Super Bowl stage, which was made to look like a gigantic
version of the band’s iconic emblem — a pair of red lips with a tongue sticking out — for the
performance. Mick Jagger did as Mick Jagger does, dancing and strutting around the stage,
cool as ever. The band played just three songs, each one from start to finish: “Start Me Up,”
“Rough Justice” and of course, “Satisfaction.”
2: Dr. Dre and friends (2022)
Hip-hop finally got its halftime show spotlight in 2022 when Dr. Dre and his cohorts
took over the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. Previously announced performers Snoop
Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, and Eminem were joined by surprise guests 50 Cent
(rapping “In Da Club” upside down) and Anderson .Paak, who banged away at the drums
during Slim Shady’s “Lose Yourself.”
From Dre sitting at the piano to play “Still D.R.E.” to Snoop rapping to Blige’s song,
“Family Affair” to Kendrick’s modern classic “Alright,” it demonstrated that hip-hop is more
than ready for its moment – and many more to come, we hope — at the Super Bowl Halftime
Show. The Emmy Awards agreed: This was the first Super Bowl halftime show ever to win a
top program Emmy — outstanding variety special (live).
Honorable mention: U2 (2002)
Less than five months after the tragedies of Sept. 11, 2001, U2 brought the heart-
shaped stage from their Elevation tour to the gridiron. The band kicked off with “Beautiful
Day,” but it was their 9/11 tribute that captured the most attention. As they played “Where the
Streets Have No Name,” a scrolling backdrop featured the names of all of the victims who
perished in the attacks, and Bono finished the song by opening his jacket to reveal the stars
and stripes in its lining.
1: Michael Jackson 1993
Eager to keep viewers glued to their televisions, the NFL whipped up the Biggest
Halftime Show Ever, starring Michael Jackson. The late King of Pop whipped viewers into a
frenzy with a lip-synched medley of “Jam,” “Billie Jean” and “Black or White.” MJ then cued
up a snippet of “We Are the World” as the crowd turned over cards revealing drawings by the
children of Los Angeles.
And just in case viewers missed his message of harmony, MJ concluded with “Heal
the World,” while surrounded by 3,500 youngsters, as a blow-up globe deployed on the 50-
yard line.
The halftime show, with its humble beginnings, has turned from a break for the
players, to the second biggest event of the Super Bowl, (the super bowl being the first,
obviously) and has featured many talented artists. Along with the music, the stage itself is one
of the most incredible parts about the show, artists use the stage in creative ways and present
the show in great ways.
“Rough Justice” and of course, “Satisfaction.”
2: Dr. Dre and friends (2022)
Hip-hop finally got its halftime show spotlight in 2022 when Dr. Dre and his cohorts
took over the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. Previously announced performers Snoop
Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, and Eminem were joined by surprise guests 50 Cent
(rapping “In Da Club” upside down) and Anderson .Paak, who banged away at the drums
during Slim Shady’s “Lose Yourself.”
From Dre sitting at the piano to play “Still D.R.E.” to Snoop rapping to Blige’s song,
“Family Affair” to Kendrick’s modern classic “Alright,” it demonstrated that hip-hop is more
than ready for its moment – and many more to come, we hope — at the Super Bowl Halftime
Show. The Emmy Awards agreed: This was the first Super Bowl halftime show ever to win a
top program Emmy — outstanding variety special (live).
Honorable mention: U2 (2002)
Less than five months after the tragedies of Sept. 11, 2001, U2 brought the heart-
shaped stage from their Elevation tour to the gridiron. The band kicked off with “Beautiful
Day,” but it was their 9/11 tribute that captured the most attention. As they played “Where the
Streets Have No Name,” a scrolling backdrop featured the names of all of the victims who
perished in the attacks, and Bono finished the song by opening his jacket to reveal the stars
and stripes in its lining.
1: Michael Jackson 1993
Eager to keep viewers glued to their televisions, the NFL whipped up the Biggest
Halftime Show Ever, starring Michael Jackson. The late King of Pop whipped viewers into a
frenzy with a lip-synched medley of “Jam,” “Billie Jean” and “Black or White.” MJ then cued
up a snippet of “We Are the World” as the crowd turned over cards revealing drawings by the
children of Los Angeles.
And just in case viewers missed his message of harmony, MJ concluded with “Heal
the World,” while surrounded by 3,500 youngsters, as a blow-up globe deployed on the 50-
yard line.
The halftime show, with its humble beginnings, has turned from a break for the
players, to the second biggest event of the Super Bowl, (the super bowl being the first,
obviously) and has featured many talented artists. Along with the music, the stage itself is one
of the most incredible parts about the show, artists use the stage in creative ways and present
the show in great ways.
