The Best Super Bowl Halftime Shows of All Time

The Super Bowl is one of the most significant sports events in the world and has become famous for its halftime show. During the interval, world-class musicians perform and entertain the crowd and viewers at home. Although the roots of the halftime show date much further back, the first halftime show took place in 1967 at the first Super Bowl, which was between the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs. It featured marching bands, jazz trumpeter Al Dirt, and some pigeons. 

From there, the show grew more significant and more impressive each year. In the early 1970s, for instance, one show celebrated Mardi Gras and the music of Louis Armstrong. In the 1980s, pop music entered the halftime show. The 1990s featured the breakthrough moment of Michael Jackson performing at the show. That moment triggered the rise of significant music artists performing at the Super Bowl. Below is a look at some of the best halftime shows in Super Bowl history. 

Prince (2007)

The death of Prince in 2016 was a profound loss to music, and as one of the most outstanding musicians ever, Prince will go down as having performed perhaps the best Super Bowl halftime show there’s ever been. The legendary late musician exceeded all expectations at Super Bowl XLI with his performance in the Miami rain. He performed a string of covers and “Purple Rain,” playing the solo behind a huge white veil with only his silhouetted form visible to the camera. 

U2 (2002)

Not long after the 9/11 attacks had shaken the world, it fell to U2 to headline the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show. The band kicked off proceedings with “Beautiful Day” but then transformed their set into a tribute to the victims of 9/11. While they played “Where the Streets Have No Name,” a scrolling backdrop displayed the names of the people who died in the attacks. Bono opened his jacket at the end of the set to reveal the Stars and Stripes on its lining. 

Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street (2009)

You can always count on Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band to put on a good show; their Super Bowl XLIII performance is no exception. From the start, Springsteen expressed his wish for audiences to step back from the guacamole dip, put their chicken fingers down, and crank the TV volume up. The band then launched into a performance of “Tenth Avenue Freezeout,” “Born to Run,” and “Glory Days.” He’s “The Boss” for a reason. The halftime show was one of them.

Kendrick Lamar (2025)

At Super Bowl LIX, Kendrick Lamar will get everybody jumping. He’s already proven up to the task, performing at Super Bowl LVI alongside Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Dr Dre, and Eminem in 2022. The Pulitzer Prize winner, who has also made headlines for a public feud with Drake this year, is expected to sing the major hits “HUMBLE” and “m.A.A.d city.”

While Lamar is doing his thing on the stage, the teams will rest in the dressing room and make any necessary tactical changes. The Philadelphia Eagles are the favorites to win, giving them Super Bowl betting odds of around +180 on their lines. The Chiefs are the next big favorites and have received odds of around +220 on the betting lines.

Lady Gaga (2017)

At Super Bowl LI, Lady Gaga put on one of the most impressive shows, visually and vocally, that the Super Bowl had ever hosted. “Mother Monster,” as her fans nickname her, entered singing a medley of “God Bless America” and “This Land Is Your Land” from the roof of the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. She then launched onto the stage to sing a selection of hits, including “Poker Face,” “Born This Way,” and, of course, “Bad Romance.” The ending of the performance was as stylish as the entry. Gaga dropped the mic, caught a ball toss, and hopped off a staircase into nothingness. 

Aerosmith, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, N Sync and Nelly (2001)

Pop music was at its height when this bizarre combo took to the stage at Super Bowl XXXV. The rockers performed a back-and-forth medley with N Sync, which included “Jaded,” I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing,” “Bye Bye Bye,” and “It’s Gonna Be Me.” They then went even better by singing their hit “Walk This Way” with the entire group of artists. 

Rolling Stones (2006)

At Super Bowl XL, the Rolling Stones were entrusted with the halftime show, and they came to play! The Stones kept things simple with just three socks: “Start Me Up,” “Rough Justice,” and, naturally, “Satisfaction.” They were in good shape, and Mick was as energetic as ever on the stage. 

The Super Bowl has put on some fantastic halftime shows. Other memorable shows include Katy Perry with Missy Elliott (2015), Shakira and J-Lo (2020), and Beyoncé (2013).