The Best Super Bowl Halftime Shows in History! See Michael Jackson, Madonna and More Performers

Each year, football fans look forward to the highly anticipated Super Bowl between two deserving teams. But many of the viewers gather around the TV just to watch the exhilarating halftime show, and over the decades, we’ve seen some of the most incredible performances. Michael Jackson, Madonna and Diana Ross are some of the many stars to have rocked the epic stage.

For the 2021 Super Bowl between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs, fans couldn’t wait to watch quarterbacks Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes go head-to-head in the 55th annual football match. It turned out to be Tom’s last Super Bowl appearance after he announced his retirement in 2022. Following the second quarter during the big game, however, the field turned into a performance venue as the Super Bowl LV Halftime show commenced. 

The legendary show was headlined by pop superstar The Weeknd in 2021. The Grammy-nominated singer, who is best known for songs “Blinding Lights,” “Can’t Feel My Face” and “Starboy,” told Billboard he paid $7 million of his own money to “make this halftime show be what he envisioned.”

The Weeknd couldn’t wait to take the stage, and he made that clear while gushing over the career accomplishment at the time the news was announced in early January 2021. 

“We all grow up watching the world’s biggest acts playing the Super Bowl and one can only dream of being in that position,” he said in his statement to Billboard. “I’m humbled, honored and ecstatic to be the center of that infamous stage this year.”

In recent years, so many notable stars have been invited to perform during the televised event. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar and Mary J. Blige were tapped to headline the show in 2022. 

For the 2020 Super Bowl, Jennifer Lopez and Shakira proved they were a dynamic duo. Jennifer kicked off the display with songs “Jenny From the Block,” “Ain’t That Funny,” “I’m Real” and “Waiting for Tonight,” which also featured her daughter, Emme. Shakira then joined in with “She Wolf,” “Hips Don’t Lie” and “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).”

In 2019, Maroon 5 appeared alongside Travis Scott and Big Boi, while Justin Timberlake, The Tennessee Kids and the University of Minnesota Marching Band gave an awesome display in 2018. Other past Super Bowl halftime performers include Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, Katy Perry, Lenny Kravitz and Missy Elliott.

The Super Bowl has seen dozens of other incredible singers throughout the halftime show has been held since 1967. This includes Stevie Wonder, Shania Twain, Paul McCartney and more.

Scroll through the gallery below to see some of the best halftime show performers in history!