Iconic Photos Showing Just How Much The Super Bowl Halftime Show Has Changed Over The Years
The Super Bowl halftime show is perhaps the most-choreographed, highest-budget form of entertainment that can fit into 15 or 20 minutes.
For more than two decades, the show consisted largely of collegiate marching bands and choirs before evolving into the dazzling spectacle we see today. Let’s take a look back at some of the most memorable Super Bowl halftime shows over the years.
Super Bowl XXVIII gave us Rockin’ Country Sunday.
The Super Bowl played in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome featured an appropriately Southern celebration of country music.
Headline performers included Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, and the Judds (seen here). All four performers came together to perform the final song, “Love Can Build a Bridge.”
Tony Bennett and Patti LaBelle captivated in 1995.
The 49ers defeated the Chargers at Super Bowl XXIX in Miami, and the halftime show featured some of the most beloved musical performers of the previous half century.
Patti LaBelle and Tony Bennett headlined the star-studded affair, which was produced by The Walt Disney Company and featured a cameo from Indiana Jones.
Diana Ross celebrated 30 years of the Super Bowl.
Super Bowl XXX was a big deal, as it marked the 30th time the big game had been played.
The halftime performance, “Take Me Higher: A Celebration of 30 Years of the Super Bowl” featured Diana Ross, who performed a high-energy medley of some of her biggest hits.
The Blues Brothers teamed up with James Brown.
For Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans, the Blues Brothers — Dan Aykroyd, John Goodman, and Jim Belushi — took center stage for the “Blues Brothers Bash” halftime show.
The performers were joined by James Brown and ZZ Top to perform a bluesy, energetic medley.
Super Bowl XXXII’s halftime show got soulful.
Super Bowl XXXII at San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium had a halftime show centered around the 40th anniversary of the Motown record label.
A long list of musicians, including Boyz II Men, Smokey Robinson, Martha Reeves, The Temptations and Queen Latifah, were accompanied by Grambling State University’s marching band.
Gloria Estefan performed at Super Bowl XXXIII in Miami.
Super Bowl XXXIII — the last Super Bowl played in the ’90s — returned to Miami and featured Miami’s own Gloria Estefan as its featured performer.
The halftime show’s theme was “Celebration of Soul, Salsa and Swing” and incorporated various genres. Stevie Wonder and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy joined Estefan on stage.
Christina Aguilera teamed up with Enrique Iglesias as Super Bowl XXXIV.
Super Bowl XXXIV will go down as a memorable game for its on-field action, but its star-studded halftime show was nothing to sneeze at.
Christina Aguilera and Enrique Iglesias performed a couple of duets and were also joined by Phil Collins and Toni Braxton.
Rock met pop at Super Bowl XXXV.
The theme of Super Bowl XXXV’s halftime show, played at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium, was “The Kings of Rock and Pop.”
Accordingly, Aerosmith brought the rock and NSYNC brought the pop. Special guests Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, and Nelly helped round out the impressive roster.
Super Bowl XXXVI featured a tribute to the victims of 9/11.
Super Bowl XXXVI, played just five months after the events of September 11th, was full of tributes to those lost.
The halftime show was a relatively sedate affair, featuring U2 with no special guests. Bono and company played “Beautiful Day,” “MLK,” and “Where the Streets Have No Name.”
There was No Doubt about Super Bowl XXXVII’s star power.
2003’s Super Bowl XXXVII was the final big game played in San Diego, and the halftime show featured SoCal’s own No Doubt as a featured performer.
Country star Shania Twain shared top billing with No Doubt, and Sting joined the festivities as a featured guest.
Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake took part in the most controversial halftime show yet.
Everyone remembers the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show, with a long list of performers including Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, P. Diddy, Nelly, Kid Rock, and Jessica Simpson.
Of course, the most notable thing wasn’t the star power, but the “wardrobe malfunction” which revealed more of Jackson than was intended.
Super Bowl XXXIX returned to the classics.
Super Bowl XXXIX, to date the only Super Bowl played in Jacksonville, was the first of two consecutive years where Don Mischer Productions handled the halftime show.
Mischer tapped Paul McCartney to perform at the straightforward show. The former Beatle played four of his biggest hits and had no special guests.
The Rolling Stones proved how ageless they are at Super Bowl XL.
Super Bowl XL was played at Detroit’s Ford Field, and was the second consecutive year featuring a classic rock act.
The Rolling Stones played classics like “Start Me Up,” “Rough Justice,” and “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” during their set.
Prince showed off an imaginative guitar at Super Bowl XLI.
Super Bowl XLI once again returned to Miami, and on an appropriately rainy night, Prince performed some of his hits — including “Purple Rain” — at halftime.
Prince was joined by the Florida A&M University Marching 100 Band for his performance.
Tom Petty kept the classic rock coming.
Tom Petty (and the Heartbreakers, of course) headlined the halftime show for Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Arizona.
The band played through four of their biggest hits, concluding their performance with “Runnin’ Down a Dream.”
The Boss headlined in Tampa.
While the Super Bowl would eventually be played in Bruce Springsteen’s native New Jersey, the Boss made his Super Bowl halftime debut at Super Bowl XLIV in Tampa.
Springsteen, along with the E Street Band and The Miami Horns, played a high-energy setlist concluding with the bittersweet sports anthem “Glory Days.”
The Who headlined Super Bowl XLIV.
Concluding a long run of classic rock acts, The Who played halftime at Super Bowl XLIV.
The Who’s performance was also notable for being the last time, to date, that the show has featured a classic rock act.
Super Bowl XLV took a new direction.
For Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium, organizers went in a different direction in choosing The Black Eyed Peas as the featured halftime performer.
Of course, the star power kept coming with Usher and Slash making special appearances, along with a performance from local marching bands.
Super Bowl XLVII featured a Destiny’s Child reunion.
Long after Beyoncé embarked on her solo career, she reunited with the other members of Destiny’s Child – Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland — for a memorable halftime performance at Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans.
Beyoncé was the only performer announced beforehand, which meant that the Destiny’s Child cameo came as a complete surprise.
Bruno Mars and RHCP came together for a cold-weather Super Bowl.
Super Bowl XLVIII, played in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is the only Super Bowl that’s been played outdoors in a cold-weather climate.
For the halftime show, featured performer Bruno Mars was joined by special guests the Red Hot Chili Peppers for a spirited, funky show.
Super Bowl XLIX gave us Left Shark.
Pop star Katy Perry delivered a fantastic performance at the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show, teaming up with special guests Lenny Kravitz and Missy Elliott.
The most memorable aspect of the show, however, would be the questionable choreography of the “Left Shark” backup dancer.
Super Bowl 50 brought back some old favorites.
Super Bowl 50 featured Coldplay as featured performer. While it was Coldplay’s first appearance at the Super Bowl, the special guests were familiar to football fans.
Halftime show veterans Beyoncé and Bruno Mars joined Chris Martin and company to perform a spirited musical medley.
Fans went Gaga for Super Bowl LI’s halftime show.
For Super Bowl LI, played at NRG Stadium in Houston, organizers of the halftime show bucked recent trends by focusing on one singular performer: Lady Gaga.
While Gaga didn’t bring out any special guests, her high-wire trapeze act was undeniably captivating.
Timberlake returned for Super Bowl LII.
Justin Timberlake’s performance at Super Bowl LII proved that organizers didn’t hold a grudge for the ‘wardrobe malfunction’ years earlier.
The game was played in Minneapolis, and Timberlake’s performance featured a heartfelt tribute to Minnesota’s own Prince.
Super Bowl LIII featured some Atlanta flavor.
Super Bowl LIII was played in Atlanta — and while headline performers Maroon 5 are based in Los Angeles, they brought some Southern influence with their guest stars.
The band was joined by Travis Scott and Atlanta’s own Big Boi, along with the Georgia State Univesity Marching Band.
Super Bowl LIV got loud.
Super Bowl LIV was played before a reduced crowd in Miami due to pandemic restrictions, but the halftime show brought those in attendance to their feet.
Co-headliners Shakira and Jennifer Lopez played an energetic medley and were joined by Bad Bunny and J Balvin.
The Weeknd brought it for Super Bowl LV.
Canadian musician The Weeknd was tapped to headline the Super Bowl LV halftime show in Tampa.
The performance ran through nearly ten of his signature songs, including “Can’t Feel My Face” and “Blinding Lights.”
Super Bowl LVI was a celebration of west coast rap.
Super Bowl LVI, played in Inglewood, California, featured one of the most memorable halftime shows in recent memory.
West coast legends Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Kendrick Lamar were joined by Eminem, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent, and Anderson .Paak brought the house down with their 11-song medley.
Rihanna headlined Super Bowl LVII.
For Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Arizona, organizers streamlined things and brought only one performer to the proceedings. Fortunately, that performer was pop megastar Rihanna.
Rihanna ran through more than a dozen of her biggest hits in a colorful, energetic performance.
Kendrick and Samuel L. Jackson headlined Super Bowl LIX.
Kendrick Lamar made his second Super Bowl halftime appearance at Super Bowl LIX in early 2025 — this time as the featured performer.
The performance also featured Samuel L. Jackson dressed as Uncle Sam, SZA, Serena Williams, and record producer DJ Mustard.
