The 10 Best Super Bowl Halftime Shows of All Time
Super Bowl Sunday is approaching, and so is Rihanna's Super Bowl Halftime Show, the first in the NFL's partnership with Apple Music.
Halftime Shows through the years have been a mixed bag and have evolved over time. At Super Bowl VI in 1972, the crowd was serenaded by Carol Channing, the star of Hello, Dolly! on Broadway. What seemed like a cast of thousands joined King of Pop Michael Jackson onstage at 1993's Super Bowl XXVII, leaving many viewers surprisingly underwhelmed. Then there was the performance that Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake would probably rather forget (i.e., “Nipplegate”) in 2004 at Super Bowl XXXVIII.
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A whole lot of rain didn’t bother Prince, who still delivered “Purple Rain” in signature style in 2007 at Super Bowl XLI. And who could forget Lady Gaga diving from the top of the stadium to deliver heartwarming renditions of "This Land Is Your Land" and "America the Beautiful" at 2017's Super Bowl LI?
Here are the top 10 Super Bowl Halftime Show performances of all time.
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10 Best Super Bowl Halftime Show Performances
10. Jennifer Lopez and Shakira — Super Bowl LIV
Jennifer Lopez and Shakira each know how to put on a show, and their Super Bowl Halftime performance didn't disappoint, especially in terms of Latinx representation and visibility. Surprising elements, including rope dancing, a Led Zeppelin riff, J. Balvin and Bad Bunny cameos, J.Lo's child Emme singing "Born in the USA" and making a poignant statement about immigration, made this one more memorable than most viewers expected. However, if you know anything about J.Lo's work ethic, Shaki's physical fluidity and ability to make everything appear effortless, you probably knew it was going to be good!
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Watch Shakira and Jennifer Lopez's Super Bowl Halftime Show here.
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9. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, 50 Cent and Kendrick Lamar — Super Bowl LVI
Listen, we got Snoop Dogg to crip walk on live television, and that was just the beginning. We weren't worthy.
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8. The Rolling Stones – Super Bowl XL
It was the Rolling Stones playing a stadium. Of course it was good.
7. Lady Gaga – Super Bowl LI
When your 68-year-old father, who thinks music peaked with Credence Clearwater Revival, says, “Boy, that Lady Gaga performance was something else,” you know it had to be good.
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6. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band – Super Bowl XLIII
The only regret about Bruce Springsteen's Halftime Show is that it did not happen sooner.
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Watch Bruce Springsteen's Super Bowl Halftime Show here.
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5. Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers – Super Bowl XLVIII
Bruno Mars knocked this performance out of the park and he only relied on simplicity and talent. It was also good fun for a large, age-diverse audience.
4. Michael Jackson – Super Bowl XXVII
The first true Super Bowl Halftime Show headlined and led by a major solo artist set a bar for future halftime shows that few have come close to meeting. Michael Jackson performed a medley that would go down in history and cement his legacy as the King of Pop.
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Watch Michael Jackson's Super Bowl Halftime Show here.
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3. U2 – Super Bowl XXXVI
U2 always seems to be the appropriate band for a time of healing. After the attacks of September 11, originally scheduled performer Janet Jackson actually stepped aside so they could play. When Bono sang the first words to “Beautiful Day,” it made the hair on your arms stand up. It only got more moving from there.
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Watch U2's Super Bowl Halftime Show here.
2. Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams – Super Bowl XLVII
Beyoncé opened her show with a recording of a Vince Lombardi quote on excellence and then owned the halftime show in a way that few performers have. She even reunited Destiny’s Child. As Rolling Stone’s Rob Sheffield wrote, “Why would you ever have a Super Bowl without Beyoncé?” Super Bowl 50 later heeded that advice.
1. Prince and the Florida A&M Marching Band – Super Bowl XLI
When Prince passed away in 2016, his halftime show reached mythical status in part because of the rain—which we all know could never stop The Purple One. Either way, he delivered the most creative performance in Super Bowl history.
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