With a little over a week away, we’re not only getting hype about this year’s Halftime performance, but we’re also finding ourselves in our feels about performances of the past.
Good thing Audacy has just the fix — Listen to Halftime Radio and more on the free Audacy app.
Though now headlined by some of the biggest artists of all time, like this year’s chosen headliner, Kendrick Lamar, the Halftime show had humble beginnings (no pun intended). Dating back to 1967, the Big Game midway performance often featured marching bands and local performers.
However, things began to change in the 1990s, the standout year being 1993, when Michael Jackson agreed to perform. And thus the Halftime Show morphed into the full-blown spectacle we now know and love — A can’t-miss television experience and the biggest concert in the world each year.
2001 brought us "The Kings of Rock and Pop" featuring Aerosmith, ‘NSYNC, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige and Nelly. 2002, a moving 9/11 tribute from U2. 2003 featured Shania Twain, No Doubt and Sting. 2004’s show featuring Janet Jackson, Kid Rock, P. Diddy, Nelly and Justin Timberlake and it’s infamous wardrobe malfunction that spurred #Nipplegate, still claims the title of most controversial show in history.
Then, in between a run of rock legends in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010, that included Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, and The Who, respectively. And of course 2007’s unforgettable performance from Prince, in the actual rain.
The 2010’s continued the tradition of serving up a cultural centerpiece midway through the year’s biggest football game. With headliners like Madonna, The Black Eyed Peas, Beyoncé , Bruno Mars, Katy Perry, Coldplay, Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake and Maroon 5. And of course we can’t forget about their slew of special guests, some of which were past or future headliners.
Obviously nothing has changed in the last few years, as the Halftime Show continues to be one of the most exciting performances of the year. In 2020, we got the spicy duo of Shakira and Jennifer Lopez. The Weeknd took over the field in 2021, followed by 2022’s stacked line-up of Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar. Rihanna took to the stage in 2003, for a solo performance and a baby bump debut, and last year, Usher pulled out all the stops, roller skates , and special guests for his performance.
Now that we’re all caught up on the Halftime show's iconic history, let’s take a moment to get hype about this year’s headlining performance. Just a few years after taking the stage will Dr.Dre’s collection of legends, Kendrick Lamar is once again hitting the stage, this time as the lead headliner.
While we don’t know much about the upcoming performance, we’re certain of the following two things. One — SZA will be joining as a special guest, and Two — it will undoubtedly be epic.