Super Bowl Halftime Show Performances: A Timeline

2018

Just two days after releasing his most experimental album yet, Man of the Woods, Timberlake put the focus on his hit-filled solo career instead of his new tunes. After starting with MOTW lead single “Filthy,” JT delivered familiar jams like “SexyBack,“ "Cry Me a River” and “Mirrors,” and his smooth choreography made for a nonstop dance party. He also incorporated a couple tributes to SBLII’s location, with "Suit & Tie" featuring the University of Minnesota Marching Band (in suits, naturally); and “Until the End of Time” seamlessly transitioning into Prince’s “I Would Die 4 U” -- a tribute that included both a hologram of the hometown hero and his iconic symbol, which lit the Minneapolis cityscape purple. But the real talk of the town came in the final minute, when Timberlake snapped a “Super Bowl Selfie" during “Can’t Stop the Feeling” that instantly sparked the next Internet sensation, Selfie Kid.

2017

Opening with a patriotic medley of "God Bless America" and "This Land Is Your Land," Lady Gaga ziplined onto the Super Bowl LI stage to perform a medley of her biggest dance hits from "Poker Face" to "Born This Way" to "Telephone" to "Just Dance." She closed with the Joanne tearjerker "Million Reasons," putting her astonishing live vocal chops on full display. After that, she dropped the mic, caught a football and then dropped the Gaga, jumping offstage in a cute, comical finale. 

2016

The 2016 NFL Super Bowl 50 Halftime Show boasted a cast of performers that was truly fit for a stadium-sized arena. Headliners Coldplay played their major hits like “Viva La Vida,” “Clocks” and “Fix You” while special guest Beyoncé, among a huge squad of Black Panther-clad dancers, hit the stage to perform her newest single “Formation.” Amping up the energy, Yoncé and Bruno Mars traded moves on a “Crazy in Love” dance-off and a medley version of “Uptown Funk!” featuring Martin, Beyoncé and Mars got the crowd in Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on their feet. The final touch: the words “Believe in love” exploded over the Super Bowl crowd. Believe, indeed.

2015

You're gonna hear her roar, indeed! Katy Perry's Super Bowl XLIX performance on February 1st in Glendale, Arizona proved to be the most viewed in history. During the record breaking halftime show, Perry rode in on a giant metallic lion, belted out some of her biggest chart toppers, and even shared the field with Lenny Kravitz, Missy Elliot and Left Shark!

2014

When Bruno Mars -- the youngest artist to headline the Super Bowl halftime show in history at the age of 28 -- hit the stage at the Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., he brought out the Red Hot Chili Peppers to add an extra kick to an already-electric performance.

2013

Beyonce had two tricks up her sleeve for her Super Bowl show in New Orleans: First, she briefly reunited Destiny's Child, the group that started her career. Second, the power went out after her performance, forever elevating Beyonce to mythical status.

2012

How many stars can one performer corral for a show? If you're Madonna and it's the Super Bowl, the answer is a lot: Cee Lo Green, Nicki Minaj, M.I.A., and LMFAO all showed up. Just because they're stars, it doesn't mean they don't believe in teamwork.

2011

The Black Eyed Peas worked their way through a set of their massive hits (stadium-ready "I Gotta Feeling," "Boom Boom Pow" and "Let's Get It Started") at Cowboys Stadium in North Texas, but also made room for a duet with Slash of Guns N' Roses'  "Sweet Child O' Mine" and Usher performing "OMG" during their set.

2010

Few rock bands are still standing more than 40 years after they started, and even fewer get the chance to play the Super Bowl. The Who's performance at Miami Gardens demonstrated both the depth of their catalog and its importance in the world of rock.

2009

Bruce Springsteen has been a stadium-sized, Super Bowl-ready performer since day one, so it was only natural when he performed with the E Street Band at the NFL event in Tampa, Fla., in 2009.

2008

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers worked their way through a greatest-hits set (including "American Girl" and "I Won't Back Down") at the Super Bowl in Glendale, Ariz., in 2008.

2007

When you're Prince, playing the Super Bowl is a mathematical problem: How do you condense so many hits into such a short set? You don't. Prince played several covers -- "We Will Rock You" and "Proud Mary" among them -- and capped everything off with "Purple Rain," arguably one of the greatest pop songs of the last century.

2006

As one of the world's most famous rock bands, The Rolling Stones were a fitting choice to headline the halftime show of one of sports' greatest spectacles. Bring on "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"!

2005

Paul McCartney played a couple of Beatles classics ("Drive My Car," "Get Back") and a shout-out to his formidable solo catalog ("Live And Let Die") before bringing it home in Jacksonville, Fla., with "Hey Jude," showing that age hasn't impacted his scream.

2004

Talk about a halftime performance seen -- and talked about -- 'round the world: Despite a stacked lineup of hitmakers -- Janet Jackson, Nelly, Diddy, Kid Rock and Justin Timberlake among them -- the real news during 2004's halftime show in Houston was Jackson's infamous "wardrobe malfunction" (also known as "Nipplegate") with Timberlake.

2003

The halftime show experimented with switching things up in 2003, moving from the immensely successful crossover country sound of Shania Twain to the ska-influenced rock of No Doubt, who teamed up with Sting for a killer rendition of The Police's "Message in a Bottle."

2002

Bruce Springsteen's only competitors in the world of stadium-sized sound are U2, who played the Super Bowl in New Orleans in 2002. Their show served as a tribute to the men and women who died in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

2001

There was a little something for everyone at the 2001 halftime show: Aerosmith for the classic rock fans, 'N Sync and Britney Spears for the youngsters, and Nelly and Mary J. Blige representing the worlds of hip-hop and R&B.

2000

Phil Collins, Toni Braxton, Christina Aguilera, and Enrique Iglesias all played at the first halftime show of the new millennium at Atlanta's Georgia Dome.

1999

Stevie Wonder and Gloria Estefan took turns wowing the crowd at the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXIII. At the end of the set, they united for a medley of "My Cherie Amour," "Another Star" and "You'll Be Mine."

1998

The Super Bowl XXXII halftime show served up a tribute to Motown, one of pop's greatest institutions. Queen Latifah and Boyz II Men joined with classic-era Motown alumni -- Smokey Robinson, the Temptations -- to celebrate a legacy.

1997

The blues has many disciples, and several of the best linked up for this performance in New Orleans: the Blues Brothers, James Brown, and ZZ Top.

1996

The 30th Super Bowl needed a special performer. With three decades of hits to draw from, Diana Ross fit the bill and performed a medley of crowd-pleasers including The Supremes' "Baby Love" and "You Can't Hurry Love"

1995

This Indiana Jones-themed halftime show featured soul greats like Patti LaBelle and Teddy Pendergrass and jazz legend Tony Bennett.

1994

The Super Bowl halftime show at Atlanta's Georgia Dome went country with Clint Black, Travis Tritt, Tanya Tucker, and The Judds.

1993

Michael Jackson helped change the entire culture of Super Bowl halftime shows when he took the stage at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., to wow with hits like "Billie Jean" and "Black or White." After him, each halftime show looked for a legendary performer -- or a group of them.

1992

When Gloria Estefan performed at the Super Bowl with Stevie Wonder in 1999, it wasn't her first rodeo: the singer (pictured at New York's Madison Square Garden in 1991) also brought her energetic sound (and dance-friendly hits including "Live for Loving You" and "Get on Your Feet") to the 1992 halftime show in Minneapolis.

1991

Fresh off the success of No. 1 albums like Hangin' Tough and Step By Step, New Kids on the Block played the halftime show at the Super Bowl in 1991. Their ardent young fans around the world watched breathlessly as the boy band performed songs like "Step by Step."