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The Super Bowl halftime show has undergone a dramatic evolution since its inception, growing from a modest showcase of college marching bands into one of the most-watched musical events in the world. In the early years, the halftime performances were largely dominated by university bands, drill teams, and classical musicians, providing a spectacle rooted in tradition rather than star power. However, this all changed in 1993 when Michael Jackson took the stage at Super Bowl XXVII, delivering a performance that redefined what the halftime show could be. His electrifying set not only captivated millions but also set a precedent for the NFL to pursue top-tier musical acts moving forward.
Following Jackson’s groundbreaking performance, the rest of the 1990s saw the league experimenting with pop megastars, incorporating acts like Diana Ross, Boyz II Men, and Gloria Estefan alongside more traditional ensemble productions. By the early 2000s, the halftime show became a stage for some of the biggest rock bands in history, with Super Bowls featuring legendary acts such as Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, U2, The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, and Bruce Springsteen. This period cemented the halftime show as an unmissable event, balancing nostalgia with massive mainstream appeal.
Over the last two decades, the show has leaned heavily into pop and hip-hop, reflecting shifts in popular music and audience demographics. The late 2000s and early 2010s saw performances from pop icons like Madonna, Beyoncé, and Katy Perry, before transitioning into a stronger focus on hip-hop in the last decade. Since 2020, artists such as The Weeknd, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Rihanna have taken center stage, marking a new era where rap and R&B dominate the halftime spotlight. While occasional rock acts still make appearances, the show has increasingly catered to younger audiences with contemporary chart-topping artists. What began as a college marching band tradition has transformed into a global entertainment spectacle, where the biggest stars on the planet now deliver performances that rival full-scale concert productions.
Complete List Of All Super Bowl Halftime Performers
Super Bowl I – January 15, 1967 – University of Arizona Symphonic Marching Band, Grambling State University Marching Band, Al Hirt, Anaheim High School Ana-Hi-Steppers Drill Team and Flag Girls – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (Los Angeles, California)
Super Bowl II – January 14, 1968 – Grambling State University Marching Band – Miami Orange Bowl (Miami, Florida)
Super Bowl III – January 12, 1969 – “America Thanks” featuring Florida A&M University band and Miami-area high school bands – Miami Orange Bowl (Miami, Florida)
Super Bowl IV – January 11, 1970 – Carol Channing, Southern University Marching Band – Tulane Stadium (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Super Bowl V – January 17, 1971 – Florida A&M University Marching Band – Miami Orange Bowl (Miami, Florida)
Super Bowl VI – January 16, 1972 – Ella Fitzgerald, Carol Channing, Al Hirt, U.S. Marine Corps Drill Team – Tulane Stadium (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Super Bowl VII – January 14, 1973 – University of Michigan Marching Band with Woody Herman and Andy Williams – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (Los Angeles, California)
Super Bowl VIII – January 13, 1974 – University of Texas Longhorn Band – Rice Stadium (Houston, Texas)
Super Bowl IX – January 12, 1975 – Mercer Ellington and Grambling State University Bands – Tulane Stadium (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Super Bowl X – January 18, 1976 – Up with People – Miami Orange Bowl (Miami, Florida)
Super Bowl XI – January 9, 1977 – Disney’s “It’s a Small World” with the Los Angeles Unified All-City Band – Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)
Super Bowl XII – January 15, 1978 – Tyler Junior College Apache Belles, Pete Fountain, Al Hirt, and the Apache Band – Louisiana Superdome (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Super Bowl XIII – January 21, 1979 – “Super Bowl XIII Carnival” featuring Ken Hamilton and various Caribbean bands – Miami Orange Bowl (Miami, Florida)
Super Bowl XIV – January 20, 1980 – Up with People presents “A Salute to the Big Band Era” – Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)
Super Bowl XV – January 25, 1981 – Southern University Marching Band and Helen O’Connell – Louisiana Superdome (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Super Bowl XVI – January 24, 1982 – Up with People presents “A Salute to Motown” – Pontiac Silverdome (Pontiac, Michigan)
Super Bowl XVII – January 30, 1983 – Los Angeles Super Drill Team – Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)
Super Bowl XVIII – January 22, 1984 – “Salute to Superstars of Silver Screen” featuring the University of Florida and Florida State University Marching Bands – Tampa Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
Super Bowl XIX – January 20, 1985 – “World of Children’s Dreams” featuring Tops In Blue – Stanford Stadium (Stanford, California)
Super Bowl XX – January 26, 1986 – Up with People presents “Beat of the Future” – Louisiana Superdome (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Super Bowl XXI – January 25, 1987 – “Salute to Hollywood’s 100th Anniversary” featuring George Burns, Mickey Rooney, Grambling State University and USC Marching Bands – Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)
Super Bowl XXII – January 31, 1988 – “Something Grand” featuring Chubby Checker, The Rockettes, 88 grand pianos, and the combined San Diego State University and USC Marching Bands – Jack Murphy Stadium (San Diego, California)
Super Bowl XXIII – January 22, 1989 – “Be Bop Bamboozled” featuring Elvis Presto and South Florida-area dancers and performers – Joe Robbie Stadium (Miami, Florida)
Super Bowl XXIV – January 28, 1990 – “Salute to New Orleans” featuring Pete Fountain, Doug Kershaw, Irma Thomas, and the Nicholls State University Marching Band – Louisiana Superdome (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Super Bowl XXV – January 27, 1991 – “A Small World Salute to 25 Years of the Super Bowl” featuring New Kids on the Block – Tampa Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
Super Bowl XXVI – January 26, 1992 – “Winter Magic” featuring Gloria Estefan, Brian Boitano, Dorothy Hamill, and the University of Minnesota Marching Band – Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Super Bowl XXVII – January 31, 1993 – “Heal the World” featuring Michael Jackson – Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)
Super Bowl XXVIII – January 30, 1994 – “Rockin’ Country Sunday” featuring Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, and The Judds – Georgia Dome (Atlanta, Georgia)
Super Bowl XXIX – January 29, 1995 – “Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye” featuring Patti LaBelle, Tony Bennett, Arturo Sandoval, and the Miami Sound Machine – Joe Robbie Stadium (Miami, Florida)
Super Bowl XXX – January 28, 1996 – Diana Ross – Sun Devil Stadium (Tempe, Arizona)
Super Bowl XXXI – January 26, 1997 – “Blues Brothers Bash” featuring Dan Aykroyd, John Goodman, James Belushi, ZZ Top, and James Brown – Louisiana Superdome (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Super Bowl XXXII – January 25, 1998 – “A Tribute to Motown’s 40th Anniversary” featuring Boyz II Men, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, Martha Reeves, and Queen Latifah – Qualcomm Stadium (San Diego, California)
Super Bowl XXXIII – January 31, 1999 – “Celebration of Soul, Salsa, and Swing” featuring Stevie Wonder, Gloria Estefan, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and Savion Glover – Pro Player Stadium (Miami, Florida)
Super Bowl XXXIV – January 30, 2000 – “Tapestry of Nations” featuring Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, and Toni Braxton – Georgia Dome (Atlanta, Georgia)
Super Bowl XXXV – January 28, 2001 – The Kings of Rock and Pop featuring Aerosmith, ‘N Sync, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, and Nelly – Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
Super Bowl XXXVI – February 3, 2002 – Tribute to Those Lost on 9/11 featuring U2 – Louisiana Superdome (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Super Bowl XXXVII – January 26, 2003 – Shania Twain, No Doubt, and Sting – Qualcomm Stadium (San Diego, California)
Super Bowl XXXVIII – February 1, 2004 – Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, P. Diddy, Nelly, Kid Rock – Reliant Stadium (Houston, Texas)
Super Bowl XXXIX – February 6, 2005 – Paul McCartney – Alltel Stadium (Jacksonville, Florida)
Super Bowl XL – February 5, 2006 – The Rolling Stones – Ford Field (Detroit, Michigan)
Super Bowl XLI – February 4, 2007 – Prince – Dolphin Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)
Super Bowl XLII – February 3, 2008 – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – University of Phoenix Stadium (Glendale, Arizona)
Super Bowl XLIII – February 1, 2009 – Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band – Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
Super Bowl XLIV – February 7, 2010 – The Who – Sun Life Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)
Super Bowl XLV – February 6, 2011 – The Black Eyed Peas, Usher, Slash – AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
Super Bowl XLVI – February 5, 2012 – Madonna, LMFAO, Nicki Minaj, M.I.A., CeeLo Green – Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Super Bowl XLVII – February 3, 2013 – Beyoncé, Destiny’s Child reunion – Mercedes-Benz Superdome (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Super Bowl XLVIII – February 2, 2014 – Bruno Mars, Red Hot Chili Peppers – MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey)
Super Bowl XLIX – February 1, 2015 – Katy Perry, Lenny Kravitz, Missy Elliott – University of Phoenix Stadium (Glendale, Arizona)
Super Bowl 50 – February 7, 2016 – Coldplay, Beyoncé, Bruno Mars – Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, California)
Super Bowl LI – February 5, 2017 – Lady Gaga – NRG Stadium (Houston, Texas)
Super Bowl LII – February 4, 2018 – Justin Timberlake – U.S. Bank Stadium (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Super Bowl LIII – February 3, 2019 – Maroon 5, Travis Scott, Big Boi – Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, Georgia)
Super Bowl LIV – February 2, 2020 – Shakira and Jennifer Lopez – Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)
Super Bowl LV – February 7, 2021 – The Weeknd – Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
Super Bowl LVI – February 13, 2022 – Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent – SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)
Super Bowl LVII – February 12, 2023 – Rihanna – State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Arizona)
Super Bowl LVIII – February 11, 2024 – Usher – Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Super Bowl LIX – February 9, 2025 – Kendrick Lamar, SZA – Caesars Superdome (New Orleans, Louisiana)
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