The Best (And Worst) Super Bowl Halftime Performances Ever
Super Bowl halftime performances seem to either be really lit or really... not. The performances at the halftime show can be so amazing and uplifting, it's hard to decide what people are talking about more after it's all said and done: the game, or the halftime show! From the masters – Madonna, Prince, The Boss – to the misers –Miami Sound Machine, Blues Brothers, Toni Braxton – it's always talked about in the weeks after, and sometimes, the years! First, the worst. Next, the best. Plus some fun behind-the-scenes facts about the halftime shows.
Worst: Gloria Estefan & Olympic Figure Skaters, 1992
The theme was "Winter Magic," for the Minnesota cold, so obviously there were gigantic snowmen and at the time famous ice skaters, Dorothy Hamill and Brian Boitano. You can see a whole lot of randomly choreographed dancing and little impish figures running here.
And Gloria Estefan, with her Miami Sound Machine, dancing and singing and trying to turn the beat around. It didn't work, and the TV audience chose to watch In Living Color's live comedy special. No one expected it to find an audience, but the special was a hit, and the super bowl halftime was a dud. This shook up the halftime organizers, who got serious about drawing in an audience for the next year: they went big with Michael Jackson.
Best: Rolling Stones, 2006
The Rolling Stones kicked off Super Bowl 2006 by getting right into the rock and roll and busting out "Start Me Up," "Rough Justice," and the expected but still completely satisfying "Satisfaction." Mick Jagger joked before singing "Satisfaction," "This one we could have done for Super Bowl I."
With some of the more racy lyrics changed or left out altogether, the show producer still chose to sue a ten-second delay in case of emergencies with lyrics or words. The Stones put on a loud, enthusiastic show that pleased the crowds and the critics. They played a 12-minute set that was completed by "Rough Justice."
Worst: Blues Brothers, 1997
Dan Aykroyd, John Goodman, and Jim Belushi formed the Blues Brothers band, though John Belushi (yes, Jim's brother) was dead. The Blues Brothers did some blues and soul which fell flat. When The Godfather of Soul (James Brown, of course) showed up, it could have been great, but it was a "day late, dollar too short."
Catherine Crier and ZZ Top (those classic rockers) showed up for some good times, (singing "Tush"- really?) but the whole thing was deflated too badly by then, and the audience was more interested in filling their popcorn buckets and getting a fresh drink with lime than watching the tops.
Worst: Be-Bop Bamboozled, 1989
PopDust magazine called Be Bop Bamboozled the "weirdest Super Bowl halftime show ever," and they aren't alone in thinking so. The whole show was supposed to be tongue-in-cheek according to producer Dan Witkowski, with the "world's largest card trick," 3-D glasses that viewers had to pick up beforehand, and a never before heard of (or again) magician and Elvis impersonator named (what else) Elvis Presto.
The producer also said that 300 million people in China alone watched this show, so from a "get eyeballs on this show" perspective, it wasn't one of the worst Super Bowl halftime performances. But from a "what is going on here" and "are we having fun", perspective...it was.
Worst: Pete Fountain, Irma Thomas, Doug Kershaw and Snoopy, 1990
The 1990 Super Bowl halftime was two tributes: to New Orleans, and to the 40th anniversary of the comic strip Peanuts. Luckily, this was in New Orleans, so the music was still worth listening to.
It all ended with Snoopy dancing on a Mississippi River steamboat to "When the Saints Go Marching In," which segued into "Happy Birthday, Charlie Brown." The jumble of influences and lack of a coherent musical theme directly impacted the audience's enjoyment of this halftime show, as well as its legacy, which is to end up on many of "worst Super Bowl halftime shows" lists.
Worst: Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye, 1995
Patti LaBelle, Tony Bennett, Teddy Pendergrass, and Miami Sound Machine all participated in this halftime show, which The Bleacher Report called "the craziest, weirdest, most unbelievable—and many would say the worst—Super Bowl halftime show ever."
The NFL had a problem after Michael Jackson's successful halftime show, according to Jim Steeg, the NFL Senior Vice President of Special Events at one time. "After Michael Jackson, a lot of big, A-list talent was afraid to compete with him." This show had skydivers, live pythons, an actor playing Indiana Jones, and plenty of stunt people. And now it also has a place in history as one of the worst halftime shows ever!
Worst: Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, Toni Braxton, and Tina Turner, 2000
If that's not enough performers for you, how about Toni Braxton and Edward James Olmos, too? The website For the Win said of the singing acts, "The singers performed five songs. More than a decade later, I doubt there’s a single person who could name them, Collins or Aguilera included."
An orchestra opened and right afterward, Christina Aquilera and Enrique Iglesias sang a mild duet to start the Disney-sponsored, international-themed affair for the new millennium. Unfortunately, this Lion King-meets-Broadway-style production didn't fly with viewers or those who make lists about good Super Bowl halftime shows!
Worst: Black Eyed Peas, 2011
The Black Eyed Peas did what they do: wore light-up robot suits, and sang a version of the very, very old song, "I've Had the Time of My Life." Slash, the fierce guitarist from Guns N' Roses (you know, the huge '80s rock and roll band) was there but Fergie sang "Sweet Child o' Mine," which caught a whole lot of flack in the media.
Rolling Stone said of the show, "The worst. Just the worst. Watching at the time, you instantly knew you were witnessing something magical and special – like seeing a unicorn cough up blood." Ouch. On the other hand, website For The Win wrote, "It was merely watchable and entertaining. Is that so bad?"
Worst: Up With People, 1986
Here's what The Street has to say about Up With People at the Super Bowl: "voice-of-God narration from the stadium PA system, some dead-eyed singers staring into nothingness and a few random color guards and drill teams and you have Up With People."
Up With People were featured or part of halftime shows for 20% of the Super Bowl's first two decades. Up With People also performed at the 1976, 1980, and 1982 halftime shows. Wow! "Up With People looked like an English language overdub of a Kim Jong Un birthday celebration and sounded like what the Manson family would have been doing if they didn't decide to go murdering people and ending the '60s. It was terrifying but, for some reason, none of us could look away."
Worst: The New Kids on the Block, 1991
This halftime show was supposedly in support of our troops, but many couldn't see how, exactly. The show featured Disney characters and small children jumping around to the New Kids’ song, “Step by Step” and the Disney classic “It’s A Small World." It was the first year that a contemporary group played at the halftime of the Super Bowl.
This was also the year Whitney Houston delivered her incredible performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" that went on to become a huge hit and best-selling, certified platinum, single. This was what was truly remembered from this halftime show. The show wasn't even played live on TV; many networks just played a condensed version after the game, or none at all.
Worst: The Who, 2010
For the Win was so under-impressed by The Who's 2010 Super Bowl halftime show, they wrote, "Remember when there was an uproar after NBC cut away from The Who’s Closing Ceremony performance at the 2012 Olympics? That wouldn’t have been a terrible fate for this halftime show."
The Who was roundly criticized for what was considered an underwhelming performance, with Rolling Stone writing, "Alas, they showed up even more shoddily prepared than the Colts, fumbling a medley of classics – sad to think of all the kids out there first hearing 'Won't Get Fooled Again' or 'Baba O'Riley' in this sorry condition."
Worst: Adam Levine Called Out For Double Standard
Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake's Super Bowl halftime performance in 2004 caused a good amount of controversy after Jackson had a wardrobe malfunction with all of America watching. Fifteen years later, it didn't take long for Adam Levine to start shedding clothing when he took the stage in 2019.
The Maroon 5 front man began the performance with a large trench coat and stripped down throughout the show until he was shirtless with pants. Immediately Twitter went into a frenzy, demanding an answer as to why Jackson wasn't able to reveal her chest, but Levine was. The double standard was all anyone remembered of the 2019 halftime performance.
Best: Katy Perry and Missy Elliott, 2015
Katy Perry put on a Vegas-style show, with wild dancing palm trees and Left Shark. Just as everyone is having the time of their lives, the big reveal came with a dark silhouette, and a snippet of "Get Ur Freak On" played. Yes, it was Missy Elliott, doing a come-back appearance, her first in years.
Rolling Stone wrote of the big reveal, "Talk about knowing how to choose your moment. Give Katy credit – only a true star would be confident enough to share a spotlight with Missy." True! Katy Perry and Missy Elliot make the top Super Bowl halftime shows of many lists, and both continue having success as recording artists in the public eye.
Best: Madonna, 2012
Madonna has been putting on spectacular stage shows since her 20s, something she reminded the world of with Super Bowl 2012.
Madonna got on stage and vogued her heart out with ancient-Roman gladiator dancers, and then Madge was doing a greatest hits compilation, and though it was considered hit or miss, it was entertaining for viewers. Madonna had fun with LMFAO for a "Party Rock Anthem"/"Sexy And I Know It" mix-up. She sang the intense "Like A Prayer" for the finale, with Cee Lo singing along, and a large robed choir. The set went on for 12 minutes.
Best: Tom Petty, 2008
If there was ever a musician who knew how to entertain a Super Bowl halftime show, it was Tom Petty. When Petty took the stage during halftime in 2008, he delivered a stellar performance. Tom Petty understood the audience and delivered a set that proved that — C'mon, he opened up with "American Girl"!
Unfortunately, even Tom Petty himself couldn't make up for the other Tom...Tom Brady. The 2009 Super Bowl, from an athletic perspective, was one of the most cringe-worthy in history, especially for New Englanders.
Best: Beyoncé, 2013
Bey opened her Super Bowl halftime with her silhouette lit on fire, after which she appeared from a cloud of smoke and started wailing her hits, like "Love on Top" and "Crazy in Love." Then there was that Destiny's Child's reunion which took off when Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams shot out from under the stage to sing with Beyoncé in three songs: "Bootylicious," "Independent Women," and "Single Ladies."
Beyoncé had dozens of female dancers and band members on stage with her, and going multi-media, there were animation screens with duplicate Bey's running around to highlight the show. Beyoncé (and Destiny's Child) made the public happy with this intense, well thought out show.
Best: Prince, 2007
After Janet Jackson's situation at the Superbowl, it was a little surprising the NFL took a chance with Prince, known for his risque lyrics and dance moves. But it paid off!
Prince put on a powerful show, playing many of his classics, like "1999" and "Let's Go Crazy," as well as the classics of others, like "Proud Mary," and Jimi Hendrix's "All Along the Watchtower." Prince put on a grand finale with fan-favorite, "Purple Rain," which had the stadium jumping and hollering and waving their arms. The last three songs were "All Along the Watchtower" which turned into "Best of You" followed by "Purple Rain."
Best: Rihanna, 2023
After being off the stage for years, Rihanna brought quite a show to the Super Bowl stage in 2023. To her fans' delight, the singer performed a medley of some of her greatest hits, including "Umbrella," "Rude Boy," and "Diamonds."
While Rihanna was literally soaring above the crowd on levitating platforms, moving along with her background dancers, something else happened. The Barbados singer announced her pregnancy. This would be her second child!
Best: U2, 2002
This NFL Super Bowl came five months after 9/11, so it had a different feel than any before. Bono and U2 paid tribute to our country's loss during "Where the Streets Have No Name." While U2 sang the song, a scrolling backdrop featured the names of all of the victims of 9/11, and as Bono finished the song, he opened his jacket to reveal the stars and stripes in its lining.
Although this show makes most "best of" lists, it was uncomfortable according to many reviewers. Billboard said, "It was great theater and a touching tribute, but going from football to Beautiful Day to a heartbreaking, scrolling list of the thousands killed in a terrorist attack, then back to football in a span of 25 minutes was disorienting."
Best: Bruce, 2009
Bruuuuuce! Or "Boss." One of America's most popular musicians (with two nicknames!) played one of the best Super Bowl halftime shows.
The Boss' set was 15 minutes, so longer than many other halftime shows and long enough to hear some of his greatest hits. Although he played an unknown song, which some thought a strange choice for a four-song set, he also played his hits, like "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out" and the classic "Born To Run." The boss had turned down several previous invitations to perform at Super Bowls, so the country was happy to have him in 2009.
Best: Aerosmith, Britney Spears, 'N Sync, Nelly, & Mary J. Blige, 2001
The 2001 Super Bowl halftime show had something unusual going for it: two performers at the height (possibly the peak for both) of their respective careers, Justin Timberlake with NSync, and Britney Spears.
Rolling Stone wrote of the performance, "Walk This Way" has to be one of the most demented three-minute spectacles ever aired on TV. Britney, in silver football pants, starring as the Missy Who Was Ready to Play. Mary J. Blige wailing along. Nelly rapping over Joe Perry's guitar solo. Really, the whole gloriously sleazy history of American pop music is here in this performance."
Best: Michael Jackson, 1993
For the Win says this was Jackson's last great performance of his career, at the Super Bowl halftime show of 1993. The King of Pop stood without moving for 90 seconds while 100,000 fans screamed and waved, waiting on his five-song set.
Michael Jackson started his set with the rousing song, "Jam" and then went into one of the most iconic pop songs ever to be sung, "Billie Jean." He then sang "Black or White," and closed with the entire stadium singing "Heal the World," along with him. "It was the birth of the modern-day Super Bowl spectacle," says For The Win. Michael Jackson died in 2009.
Middle Of The Pack: Boyz II Men, 1998
If you listen to the critics then you know how lackluster this promising performance was. Boyz II Men didn't perform their most popular hit "End of the Road," which was enough for viewers to write the performance off almost completely. Still, at the time Boyz II Men were still in their peak years, which is why they decided to do a tribute to Motown.
The brought out a slew of legendary guests including Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, Martha Reeves and The Four Tops. Many felt the unpopular choice out of those people was Martha Reeves, but she still delivered a powerful performance. In the end, the performance didn't totally flop, but, it definitely wasn't considered a memorable performance.
Best: Stevie Wonder, 1999
A trip down memory lane! When Stevie wonder came to Miami to grace the halftime show, he did so with style and elegance. Stevie Wonder sang a slew of his best classics and also gave Gloria Estefan a shot at Super Bowl redemption. He even performed "Sir Duke" as a tribute to Duke Ellington's hundredth-birthday.
Gloria Estefan spiced things up for the Miami audience too. She gave us an uptempo salsa percussion. And there was also an appearcance by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. One of the funniest moments of all those was that Stevie Wonder drove the car on the field. Who let him do that?!
Worst: Shania Twain, Sting, And No Doubt, 2003
Sorry, Shania Twain fans, but this was arguably one of the country star's most forgettable moments. We almost forgot that she even showed up. The performance she put on was essentially a snooze fest — so much so that the cameraman even zoomed in on the keytar guy. Now, that is some bad entertainment when you don't want to do close-ups of the main event.
Luckily, Gwen Stefani and Sting were there to save the day. They harmonized to the sweet tune of "Message in a Bottle" and made the perfect combo. A bonus for Gwen was that she got to put on a show for her hometown SoCal crowd.
Best: Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, 2014
Bruno Mars came and set the stage on fire in 2014. The show commenced with a dozen teens singing and then boom, the spotlight goes to Bruno Mars as he is doing his best John Lennon impression on the drums. The multitalented star sang, did instruments and danced all for our enjoyment.
And to make it better, the Red Hot Chili Peppers took everyone by surprise. They took off their shirts and started jumping around to one of their biggest hits. At first, people questioned this lineup but they proved to be a good choice.
Best: Diana Ross, 1996
This was the most diva a halftime show before Queen Bey came around. As Diana Ross was being lowered to the stage on a crane, she yells, "Come on, world!" The cane was made out of sparklers, which makes the whole entrance that much better.
There was a lot of commotion on the stage while she was performing so some were worrying if she would get run over by the army of the red-vested dancing squad. But the best part was when she said, "Oh my, here comes my ride!" A helicopter landed and she was taken away in true diva fashion.
Worst: The Halftime Shows From 1967 To 1989
Back in the day, the Super Bowl halftime shows were nowhere near what they are today. To be fair, it seems like the head honchos at the Super Bowl didn't really know they were allowed to put on spectacular shows that are essentially better than the games themselves.
The shows were so lackluster that Rolling Stone describes the halftime events from '67 through '89 as merely "bathroom breaks." It wasn't until the 1990s that things really started heating up on the field.
Not The Worst, Not The Best: Tanya Tucker, Clint Black, Travis Tritt and The Judds, 1994
If you're reading the headline and wondering "...who?" don't worry — you're not alone. During the 1994 Super Bowl halftime show, America was blessed with a set by Tanya Tucker, Clint Black, Travis Tritt, and The Judds.
All hailing from Nashville, the all-American country entertainment made for a very wholesome, yet astonishingly forgettable, set. While there were no frills with this lackluster performance, after several mishaps throughout the years, you can blame the Super Bowl execs for wanting to play it safe.
Best: Paul McCartney, 2005
When you're the leading man of one of the most iconic bands of all time, people expect a lot from you. While some musicians might crack under the pressure, Sir Paul McCartney is a different kind of individual entirely. When he hit the stage during the Super Bowl halftime show in 2005, he did was he's done for the past half-century, and he did it perfectly.
Opening with "Drive My Car" into "Get Back," before closing out with "Live and Let Die" and "Hey Jude," Paul McCartney delivered an unforgettable performance.
Best: Coldplay, 2016
Say what you want about Coldplay, but we have to give credit where credit is due. In 2016, the British rockers opened up for Queen Bee herself. And let's face it — most people left with this task would have been downright scared. Not only did Coldplay show up to the performance, but they delivered a great show too. The band opened with the fan favorite tune "Yellow," which was a great way to juxtapose the energy of "Viva la Vida" next.
They followed with hits "Paradise" and "Adventure of a Lifetime" before Bruno Mars took the stage to deliver his hit "Uptown Funk." Things really popped off when Christ Martin joined Mars and Beyoncé for a mash-up of "Fix You" and "Up&Up."
Best: Bruno Mars, 2016
Alright, since we're already talking Bruno Mars, we've got to throw him in here. After all, he did accompany Coldplay and Queen Bee to give a star-studded performance during the 2016 Super Bowl halftime show.
After Coldplay wrapped up their tune "Adventure of a Lifetime," Bruno Mars hit the stage to perform "Uptown Funk," which is arguably the best song to get a crowd hyped. Beyoncé soon joined and wowed the audience with "Formation" mixed with "Crazy in Love."
Best: Lady Gaga, 2017
Lady Gaga isn't exactly known for being a "chill" star. So it was only appropriate for Mother Monster to enter the stage during the 2017 Super Bowl halftime show via cables seemingly a mile high. As if that wasn't enough, she immediately began belting "God Bless America" into "This Land Is Your Land," showcasing her powerhouse vocals.
It was time to get the audience hyped though, so Gaga began singing "Born This Way" following by "Telephone" and "Just Dance," both of which she hadn't performed live in almost three years.
Best: Left Shark, 2015
Say what you want about this one, but Left Shark became such an internet sensation following his appearance at the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show that he deserves a shoutout. During Katy Perry's Vegas-style performance, she danced alongside moving palm trees, and of course, Left Shark. The thing was, Katy didn't just have one shark flanking her while she danced — but left Shark was the one who grabbed the attention of everyone.
Halftime show director Hamish Hamilton told EW, " I don’t think anybody on the team had any idea that Left Shark was going to become such a cultural phenomenon. We were trying to work out how we could bring a beach scene to life."
Best: M.I.A., 2013
The halftime show during Super Bowl XLVI was jam-packed. As Madonna took the stage accompanied by LMFAO, the audience went wild. Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. joined their fellow musicians onstage, dressed in Egyptian clothing, as they danced like cheerleaders with pom-poms.
M.I.A. held her own alongside a group of talented artists who were arguably more famous than she was at the time. Everything seemed to be going well until M.I.A. did something that would cost her millions of dollars in fines. Check out the details about what happened next.
Worst: M.I.A.'s Middle Finger, 2015
While performing alongside Madonna, M.I.A. flashed her middle finger to the camera. What some considered a minor incident, blew up in her face. People had a ton to say about M.I.A.'s behavior, calling it the "finger malfunction" that upstaged Madonna.
Madonna immediately expressed her disappointment in M.I.A., calling her actions "teenage" and "irrelevant." In an interview with Ryan Seacrest, Madonna further said, " I was really surprised. I didn't know anything about it. I wasn't happy about it. I understand it's punk rock and everything, but to me there was such a feeling of love and good energy and positivity; it seemed negative."
Even Worse: M.I.A. Is Sued By The NFL
Fortunately, M.I.A. and Madonna had no bad blood between them. But unfortunately for M.I.A., she was hit was a staggering lawsuit from the NFL. According to ESPN, "Contracts signed by performers for the Super Bowl stipulate that an artist's performance and wardrobe must comply with the NFL's standards.
Failure to do so, could result in a stiff fine.contracts signed by artists performing at the Super Bowl." ...And that's exactly what happened to M.I.A. One month after the performance, the American Arbitration Association sought $1.5 million from the Sri Lankan artist.
M.I.A.'s $16 Million Charge
For a moment, it truly seemed like the saga of M.I.A.'s middle finger would never end. After two years, the issue still wasn't resolved so what did the American Arbitration Association do? They said they were seeking an additional $15.1 million in damages, bring the rapper's charges to more than $16 million.
Shortly after news of the $16 million asking amount was made public, M.I.A. tweeted: "@madonna ummm .... can I borrow 16 million?"
Best, Sort Of: M.I.A. Settles In August 2014
Nearly two and a half years later, M.I.A. finally settled with the NFL and put the controversial middle finger behind her...although we're sure she was mentally giving the bird to every NFL employee there.
While the total amount the rapper ended up paying has never been made public. Her attorney did say that his client and the NFL reached a settlement which finally ended their multimillion dollar dispute. As for what the NFL did with that money? They reportedly donated it to charity.
M.I.A. Wasn't The Only Expensive Artist
Sure, M.I.A.'s performance may have "tarnished" the NFL's image slightly, but c'mon, who is really that uptight to care anyway? Besides, M.I.A. definitely hasn't been the only artist with a best/worst moment that caused lots of controversy.
We already looked at Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake's iconic halftime show performance, but do you know how much this "best" moment cost the NFL in terms of damage control? Learn the expensive details in the next slide.
This Moment Cost The NFL $550,000
Janet and Justin's performance is still considered one of the most controversial moments of a Super Bowl halftime show 10 years later. The FCC received a staggering 554,000 complaints from viewers following the act.
“My decision to change the Super Bowl performance was actually made after the final rehearsal,” Jackson said “MTV, CBS [and] the NFL had no knowledge of this whatsoever, and unfortunately the whole thing went wrong in the end. I am really sorry if I offended anyone. That was truly not my intention.” Despite her apology, it's unlikely we'll see her back to perform. Ironically, Justin Timberlake is in line to perform at the 2018 Super Bowl.
Outkast Said No To The Bowl
Guess who has turned down an offer to play the 2004 halftime show? Outkast did, for artistic reasons. One half of the influential rap duo, Big Boi, reported the turn-down to Business Insider. Sounds like he was willing to go ahead with it but that his partner Andre 3000 was not.
The two were supposedly asked to perform their hits "Hey Ya!" and "The Way You Move” but the producers wanted them to shorten the songs. Big Boi said "[Andre] didn’t want to cut the songs, he wanted to do the full songs. It was like, 'Nah, can’t do it." Big Boi expressed a hope to be invited back for another Super Bowl. Food for thought: if Outkast had accepted, the whole Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction wouldn’t have happened.
Expenses Only
We always figured that the big stars who perform at Super Bowls really rake in the big bucks (especially considering how much ads sell for!) but that’s not the case. Artists get reimbursed for their expenses (lodging, travel, production costs, backup singer and dancer fees) but that’s it.
The reason? It’s not likely that any musician or performer could ever get such a huge audience for any one event on their own, so the Super Bowl provides a spectacular opportunity for exposure. Forbes reported in 2013 that Beyonce’s production expenses ran upwards of $600,000 that year. That’s a pretty penny.
New Kids On The Block = No Kids On The Block?
As mentioned earlier, the 1991 Super Bowl organized its first halftime show to feature major, contemporary stars. Before that, college bands and local musicians had been the feature of the shows. But for the 1991 game, the teen pop idols New Kids on the Block were the headlining band. Fans hoping to watch the spectacle from home were sorely disappointed, however.
The network airing the Super Bowl cut away from the performance to show coverage of the Gulf War. Band member Donnie Wahlberg later wrote a piece for Playboy about getting bumped, saying “most people don’t know of or acknowledge it as the first of its kind — you know, the grandfather of all these halftime performances: because they didn’t see it.”
The Forgotten Halftime Show
Luckily, it turns out that the New Kids on the Block were not too devastated about being bumped from the live TV coverage. In his Playboy interview, Donnie Wahlberg said that the group was actually not that pumped about the show and its Disney-produced hyper-commercialization.
"Afterward, we found out it didn’t air during the game. It had been preempted. George Bush made a speech." Wahlberg shared. "I’m sure a lot of our fans were upset. But it made me very happy. We all breathed a sigh of relief. And it felt appropriate.... It felt more fitting that George Bush made a speech during halftime than this 'Small World' Disney thing."
Best: Whitney Houston, 1991
The legendary pop diva Whitney Houston also performed at Super Bowl XXV, after the New Kids on the Block. Her performance that evening earned her a permanent place of honor in Super Bowl history. Houston’s rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” was an immediate success.
Danyel Smith of ESPN Magazine wrote about the performance in 2016. “People were weeping in the stands, weeping in their homes. The song itself became a top-20 pop hit. Folks called in and requested Whitney Houston's national anthem on the radio.” It is one of the most-beloved Super Bowl halftime moments of all time.
No JAY-Z For U
As we've seen, not everyone jumps at the chance to appear at the Super Bowl. In 2017 it was reported that JAY-Z, who happens to be married to Beyoncé, has turned down offers to perform at the Super Bowl LII halftime performance. The Sun reported an insider claimed that “He really has no plans to do the half-time show.”
It’s possible that he balked when he learned that his wife wasn’t paid for her performance, but more likely that he’s refusing to participate in order to show support for Colin Kaepernick and other NFL players who do not kneel during the national anthem.
Best: Tribute To Louis Armstrong, 1972
Although halftime shows in the 1970s were not the elaborate spectacles they are today, there were still some really memorable moments. One of those was a tribute to the great trumpeter and singer Louis Armstrong. It took place in 1972, at Super Bowl VI. The salute to Armstrong was performed by jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald and trumpeter Al Hirt.
Fitzgerald had been a frequent singing partner to Armstrong. Hirt and Fitzgerald, alongside singer Carol Channing and the U.S. Marine Corps Drill Team, performed the song "Mack the Knife." Fitzgerald was the first African-American woman to perform at a Super Bowl halftime.
From A To ZZ Top
The same year as the Blues Brothers performed, ZZ Top made an appearance. The bearded band played their own set at Super Bowl XXXI which included the songs “Tush” and “Legs.” Unfortunately, the Blues Brothers’ performance, which was called “painful” (and worse) by some viewers meant that many people tuned out by the time ZZ Top came out to play.
The band wasn’t harmed by this subpar Super Bowl performance, luckily. To date, ZZ Top has sold more than 25 million albums and they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.
Frodo Was There
We guess you never know just who might turn up at the Super Bowl – after all, it’s one of the biggest live performances of the year. Here’s a surprising one though… actor Elijah Wood once sang at a halftime show. Wood is best known for his role as the hobbit Frodo in the The Lord of the Rings trilogy but has been acting prolifically since then.
His part in Super Bowl XXVIII (Atlanta) was a small one, but still worth a mention. He sang alongside country music stars Wynonna Judd, Clint Black, and Tanya Tucker. Elijah Wood also appeared in a Super Bowl commercial in 1993 (for Wavy Lay’s potato chips).
Gaga’s Halftime Haters
After Lady Gaga’s well-received 2017 halftime performance, the singer was unfortunately targeted by online trolls who attempted to body-shame her with criticism of her appearance. The cyber bullies took to social media to say unkind things like Gaga had a “beer gut” or “muffin top.”
Gaga, who is all about body acceptance, was having none of that nonsense. She wrote on Instagram, "I'm proud of my body and you should be proud of yours too. No matter who you are or what you do. I could give you a million reasons why you don’t need to cater to anyone or anything to succeed. Be you and be relentlessly you.” That’s a great message for all her fans, whether they’re football fanatics or not.
Elvis Has Left The Building
Magic tricks during the Super Bowl? It happened, and it changed the game for future halftime performances. The year was 1989, and an Elvis Presley impersonator/magician named Elvis Presto took to the stage for Super Bowl XXIII in Miami, Florida, alongside 2,000 dancers and the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile.
This was part of the “Be-Bop Bamboozled” performance mentioned earlier in the slideshow. It was the biggest productions to date and was an effort to draw in viewers who weren’t football fans. It worked. The show’s producer, Dan Witkowski, said that “[a]ll of the baby boomers were trying to cling on to the past and so it just all kind of clicked from that standpoint.”
That’s A Lot Of Ebony And Ivory
The record for the most pianos to perform at once during a halftime show belongs to Super Bowl XXII, 1988. Held in San Diego, California, the show’s theme was (appropriately enough) “Something Grand.” Chubby Checker, the Rockettes, the USC Marching Bands and the San Diego State University Marching Aztecs all performed alongside 88 grand pianos!
Radio City Music Hall produced the elaborate show. We wonder how many tuners all those pianos required. This Super Bowl also featured a tribute to the iconic entertainer Bob Hope. Fun fact: hit sitcom The Wonder Years premiered on television directly after the game ended.
Katy Perry Photobomb?
Just what is going on here? One viewer of Katy Perry’s performance during the 2017 Super Bowl halftime show pointed out this creepy figure in the background during her song "Teenage Dream." The photo was added to reddit with the caption, “[p]aused the halftime show at the right moment and saw this guy.”
Is he a stagehand or just a random creep who was able to sneak into the backstage area and flash a smile for the cameras. As one reddit user commented about the photo, “We all were focused on the fake sharks....while the real shark lurked behind the waves.”
Set Up Has To Happen In Minutes
If you’ve ever watched the Super Bowl (and how many of us haven’t?) you’ve probably been impressed by how fast the elaborate stages and displays seem to magically appear in the middle of the football field. It’s not magic, folks. It’s a bunch of people working really hard and more importantly, really fast. Popular Mechanics reported on the process before the Who’s 2010 performance.
It took a team of 600 people to set up that stage. The vice president of NFL special events, Charles Coplin, said that it’s "[s]ix minutes on and six minutes off the stage. There's just no way to describe that other than sheer terror."
When Things Don’t Go Smoothly
No matter what the conditions, the people who work behind the scenes have to get the job done of setting up halftime stages at lightning speed. Assembling the stage for a regular concert can take days, instead of the mere minutes that Super Bowl staffers and volunteers get.
In 2010, four workers were injured while rehearsing for the Who’s stage set-up, one seriously enough to be transported via helicopter. Before Prince’s 2007 halftime appearance there was a complete downpour. In addition, the power went out. The solution? A stagehand held two cords together during the 12-minute entire performance.
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Unplugged
Many fans were quick to notice that the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ instruments seemed to be unplugged during their Super Bowl XLVIII performance. Flea confirmed the rumors with a post on Facebook, saying that the band knew ahead of time that only their vocals would be live with the rest of the music pre-recorded.
In a letter to fans, Flea wrote, “I understand the NFL's stance on this, given they only have a few minutes to set up the stage, there a zillion things that could go wrong and ruin the sound for the folks watching in the stadium and the t.v. viewers.” He emphasized that the band would happily play the gig again, the exact same way.
Beyoncé’s Super Bowl Controversy
It seems that just about every performance is open to criticism these days. With such a huge audience, it’s inevitable. Beyoncé’s 2016 halftime performance was pretty politically charged: it referenced the Black Panthers, the Black Lives Matter movement, Malcolm X, and Hurricane Katrina.
Criticism (and approval) came quickly. Jessica Williams of the Today Show was quick to support Bey in a stinging editorial segment: “I didn’t realize that singing about race was equivalent to Janet Jackson getting her [expletive] pulled out at the Super Bowl. But you’re right … the fans deserve wholesome entertainment. Like watching 300-pound men give each other concussions while a crowd cheers like we’re extras in the movie Gladiator.”
Up With People
As mentioned earlier, the group Up With People holds the record for performing at the most Super Bowl halftime shows. Up With People is actually an educational organization that was formed in 1965 as part of the Moral Re-Armament (a spiritual movement). The group started doing what they called “Sing Out shows,” and started getting booked for Super Bowl shows despite not being at all popular with football fans.
Many credit Up With People for helping to establish modern Super Bowl halftime performances – big, bold, and over-the-top dramatic. Interesting note: actress Glenn Close was once a member of Up With People.
Secrecy Is Of The Utmost Importance
It’s vital that any surprises or details about the halftime show aren’t leaked to the public before the Super Bowl. Cracked interviewed two performers who have worked on halftime shows and got some insider details on what goes on behind the scenes. Both performers say that Nondisclosure Agreements are a huge part of the job.
Cellphones are not allowed inside the facilities, and rehearsals are even affected by all the secrecy. In fact, Missy Elliott didn’t show up for any rehearsals until the day before her surprise appearance with Katy Perry in 2015 because producers were too concerned that the secret would be spilled. Above: Lady Gaga on the field before the big game.
Not A Pretty Thought
Beneath the glitz and glamour of the Super Bowl halftime shows is a not-so-nice fact (but a very necessary one). During halftime, a lot of people attending the game need to use the restroom. Scott Tissue has written a pretty entertaining analysis of how many toilets flush during halftime.
“More than 350 million gallons of water will flush through our toilets as an estimated 90 million people use their facilities,” the company claims. “That amount of flushing equals seven minutes of water flowing over the Niagara Falls." This is probably a facetious estimate, but it’s still worth a thought.
Timberlake's Tribute To Prince, And Selfie Kid
The 2018 Super Bowl featured one of the best entertainers of this generation. After some controversy surrounding his return to the big stage after his mishap with Janet Jackson, it turned out to be a great performance. He did all of his classics and then added in a tribute to the late Prince.
After he was tired of doing all his dance moves on stage, he took to the crowd. While he was parlaying with the fans, Timberlake took a selfie with an unsuspecting kid. That one selfie earned him enough clout to appear on Ellen.
