Rihanna is set to stun audiences this weekend when she takes the stage to perform at Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona – and the stakes for the Barbadian pop star have never been higher.
The Umbrella singer follows in the footsteps of some of music’s biggest stars – including Madonna and Prince – who have taken on the challenge of delivering a stunning performance that typically lasts just 12 to 15 minutes.
Known as an increasingly lavish show each year, the halftime performance is the main attraction of the NFL game for some viewers.
For decades, marching bands dominated the halftime show, with the occasional bold names like Carol Channing, New Kids On The Block or Gloria Estefan.
In 1993, however, the tenor of the event changed when Michael Jackson brought his superstar stature to the show and delivered a medley of his hits.
Since then, the Super Bowl halftime has become the most anticipated music event of the year – a place for the industry’s top celebrities to showcase their talents at their most straightforward and electrifying.
Here, looks back at some of the most iconic halves of yesteryear – including one where a dance move went horribly wrong and sparked a national scandal.
Lady Gaga (2017)
Americana: Lady Gaga kicked off her show with patriotic fervor, singing a medley of national classics “This Land Is Your Land” and “God Bless America.”
Lady Gaga opened her show with patriotic fervor, singing a medley of national classics “This Land Is Your Land” and “God Bless America.”
She then stunned audiences across the country with an optical illusion that made it appear as if she had jumped from the roof of Houston’s NRG Stadium onto a stage below.
Afterwards, she revealed on Radio Karson & Kennedy that she performed the stunt after her little sister Natali chirped, “I know, let’s hang you in mid-air!”
Gaga then treated the crowd to a string of her biggest hits, including Poker Face, the single that launched her career almost a decade earlier.
Pyrotechnics: She then stunned audiences across the country with an optical illusion that made it appear as if she had jumped from the roof of Houston’s NRG Stadium onto a stage below
Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake (2004)
The biggest uproar in Super Bowl halftime history was Janet Jackson’s infamous “nip slip” during her performance alongside Justin Timberlake.
Jackson was originally hired for the gig two years earlier, only to be replaced by U2, who were seen as the more appropriate choice for the emotional post-9/11 performance.
However, when Jackson finally made it onto the halftime stage, her career imploded.
As she twirled through her choreography, Timberlake notoriously ripped off a piece of Jackson’s top, momentarily exposing one of her breasts to millions of viewers.
The Federal Communications Commission received more than half a million complaints, 65,000 of which came from the Parents Television Council alone.
Jackson was banned from the industry, radio and television banned her songs and music videos. A planned biopic about Lena Horne, in which she was supposed to play the leading role, also failed due to the scandal.
Timberlake refrained from publicly defending Jackson, and didn’t even apologize for causing her wardrobe malfunction until a 2021 documentary about his ex, Britney Spears, led to him being inundated with public taunts about his treatment of women.
Scandal: The biggest uproar in Super Bowl halftime history was Janet Jackson’s infamous “nip slip” during her performance alongside Justin Timberlake
Uh oh: While twirling through her choreography, Timberlake notoriously ripped off a piece of Jackson’s top, exposing one of her breasts for a moment to millions of viewers
Prince (2007)
Dressed in his signature color purple, Prince performed on a stage shaped like his “love symbol” — the same one he temporarily changed his name to in the 1990s.
Although the halftime show is traditionally held outdoors in the center of the stadium, Prince’s performance marked the first time it rained.
Shrugging off the dangers of using gadgets like electric guitars in a downpour, Prince actually loved the challenge, to the point where he reportedly wished it would “rain harder.”
He treated the audience to a medley of not only his own numbers, but also those of other musical icons, including Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Proud Mary and Bob Dylan’s All Along The Watchtower.
His closer was fittingly Purple Rain, culminating in fireworks.
Showman: Dressed in his signature color purple, Prince performed on a stage shaped like his “love symbol” — the same one he temporarily changed his name to in the 1990s
Undeterred: Although the halftime show is traditionally held outdoors in the middle of the stadium, Prince’s performance marked the first time it had rained, which Prince adored
U2 (2002)
U2 played at halftime in the Louisiana Superdome less than five months after 9/11, when the country was still reeling from the shock of the attacks.
Standing on a heart-shaped stage, the band kicked off with a performance of their hit song Beautiful Day before shifting into a more melancholic gait befitting the occasion.
Viewers across the country burst into tears as U2 sang their songs “MLK” and “Where The Streets Have No Name” with the names of 9/11 victims projected on a screen behind them.
Bono then unzipped his jacket and revealed to the cameras that the lining was the Stars and Stripes.
Emotion: U2 played at halftime in the Louisiana Superdome less than five months after 9/11, when the country was still reeling from the shock of the attacks
Madonna (2012)
True to her longtime moniker as the “Queen Of Pop,” Madonna delighted her legions of fans worldwide with an unforgettable extravagance.
Her backup performers included not only the current year’s top stars like Cee Lo Green, LMFAO and Nicki Minaj, but also legendary rapper MIA and a Cirque Du Soleil team.
She combined her classic hits like Vogue, Express Yourself and Like A Prayer with her new song Gimme All Your Luvin’ in a whirlwind medley.
Nicki and MIA appeared dressed as their cheerleaders while Cee Lo Green led a march before Madonna sang Like A Prayer with a 200-strong choir.
Madonna set the record for the most-watched Super Bowl halftime of all time that year.
Fab: True to her longtime nickname as the “Queen Of Pop,” Madonna wowed her legions of fans worldwide with an unforgettable extravagance
Star-studded: Nicki and MIA appeared dressed as their cheerleaders during Madonna’s boppy then-new number Gimme All Your Luvin’
Sensation: Cee Lo Green led a march before Madonna sang Like A Prayer with a 200-strong choir
Beyonce (2013)
Beyoncé fans were treated to her dependable, expert showmanship as she took the stage at the Superdome in New Orleans during the 2013 Super Bowl.
Rising from the ground while silhouetted against a cloud of steam, she began her setlist with “Love On Top” and “Crazy In Love,” allowing her to showcase her impressive vocal qualities.
Her longtime fans were in for a special thrill as she enjoyed a reunion on stage with Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, with whom she rose to fame in the girl group Destiny’s Child.
After recording their old Destiny’s Child numbers Bootylicious and Independent Women, the trio all lent their talents to Beyoncé’s solo hit Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It).
Make it happen: Beyoncé fans were treated to her dependable, expert showmanship when she took the stage at the Superdome in New Orleans during the 2013 Super Bowl
Paul McCartney (2005)
Paul McCartney’s performance was a happy burst of nostalgia for audiences who saw him repeat his old Beatles numbers “Drive My Car” and “Get Back”.
He also serenaded crowds with his James Bond track Live And Let Die, which he originally recorded in 1973 fronting the group Paul McCartney And Wings.
At the end of his set, he returned to the Beatles catalog with Hey Jude, prompting the entire live audience — and many viewers sitting at home — to sing along.
Looking back, Paul McCartney’s performance was a cheerful burst of nostalgia for audiences who got to see him perform his old Beatles numbers “Drive My Car”, “Get Back” and “Hey Jude” as well as his later single “Live And Let Die” repeated
Aerosmith and NSYNC (2001)
Aerosmith and NSYNC teamed up as “The Kings Of Rock And Pop” for a show that featured high-profile guest stars as well as the main cast.
The two bands were joined by none other than Britney Spears, then at the height of her superstardom and dating NSYNC heartthrob Justin Timberlake to boot.
Along with seeing showbiz’ hottest couple on stage together, viewers were able to catch performances from the likes of heavyweights Mary J. Blige and Nelly.
Wow: Aerosmith and NSYNC teamed up as “The Kings Of Rock And Pop” for a show that featured guest stars like Nelly and Britney Spears
Throwback: Spears and Timberlake were dating at the time, so the Super Bowl gig included seeing the hottest showbiz couple reunited on stage
Jennifer Lopez and Shakira (2020)
Last month, before COVID-19 lockdowns swept the world, crowds of fans gathered at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami to see a brace bursting at the seams with star power.
JLo has since expressed frustration at being lumped in with another cast member, but during the Super Bowl, her and Shakira’s fans were swooning with delight.
Sizzling through her beloved hits like Whenever, Wherever and Hips Don’t Lie, Shakira brought out her Lebanese heritage by belly dancing and performing a Middle Eastern yell known as zaghrouta.
She leaned towards the camera for the zaghrouta, seducing viewers with her tongue movements and going viral when people who didn’t know the cultural background started googling the details.
Jennifer also twirled through a medley of her hits, including such favorites as Love Don’t Cost A Thing, Jenny From The Block and El Anillo.
For Let’s Get Loud, she was joined by Emme, one of the now 14-year-old twins she shares with ex-husband Marc Anthony, in a moment that warmed the hearts of her fans.
Shakira and JLo’s Super Bowl performance caused some controversy online for its saucy content, including a stripper pole and the superstars’ revealing costumes.
Shakira and JLo: In the last few months before the COVID-19 lockdown swept the world, throngs of fans flocked to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami to see a brace bursting at the seams with star power
Side by side: JLo has since expressed frustration at being lumped in with another cast member, but during the Super Bowl her and Shakira’s fans had swooned with delight
The Rolling Stones (2006)
Even in their senior years, the Rolling Stones remained the rule-breakers they always were when they played the 2006 Super Bowl at Detroit’s Ford Field.
Crammed into a room about 15 minutes long, Super Bowl halftime acts typically play a medley of their old songs and squeeze as many numbers as possible into short snippets.
However, the Rolling Stones refused to cut their songs short, instead simply playing three of their most famous full-length hits back-to-back – Start Me Up, Rough Justice and Satisfaction.
They also drew attention for their stage, which was designed to look like the band’s now-iconic logo, a tongue protruding from a pair of massive scarlet lips.
Mick is Mick: Even in their later years, the Rolling Stones remained the rule breakers they always were when they played the 2006 Super Bowl at Detroit’s Ford Field
dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J Blige, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar (2022)
Hip-hop heavyweights from across the decades come together in a glitzy, unforgettable group performance that finally puts the genre front and center at the Super Bowl.
From Dre and Snoop performing “The Next Episode” and “California Love” to Blige’s renditions of “Family Affair” and “No More Drama,” the show was filled with joy for hip-hop fans.
In a fun reversal, audiences got to hear Eminem and Dre’s old duet “Forgot About Dre” – but with Lamar taking the place of the NWA icon.
The hits came during that half as well, as 50 Cent wowed the crowd with a surprise performance to perform his 2003 hit single “In Da Club.”
What a night: Last year’s Super Bowl halftime show was packed with hip-hop legends including (from left) Dr. Dre, Mary J Blige, and Snoop Dogg
Michael Jackson (1993)
It was Michael Jackson who started the superstar trend headlining the Super Bowl halftime show when he sang a medley of his hits at the 1993 Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
Although Thriller wasn’t on the menu, the audience could hear him repeat his numbers Billie Jean, Black Or White and Jam before a children’s choir entered the show for We Are The World and Heal The World.
The show came months before police investigated allegations of child molestation against Jackson, in a case that eventually ended in an out-of-court settlement.
Back to the beginning, it was Michael Jackson who started the superstar trend headlining the Super Bowl halftime show when he sang a medley of his hits at the 1993 Rose Bowl in Pasadena