When it comes to the world of sports, there is only one event that remains one of the biggest each and every year, the Super Bowl! After first coming to prominence in 1967, the sporting event stands as one of the few to garner millions upon millions of spectators, and we certainly know why!
While the sport itself is always the hottest topic, millions of folks tune in for the esteemed Halftime Show! The mid-show spectacle first began in 1991 when the NFL collaborated with a number of pop icons, including Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, and Beyonce, to name a few.
Although The Weeknd's most recent performance was less than stellar, 2020 saw one of the biggest years ever! JLo and Shakira headlined, leaving viewers with rhythm for days! This marks one of many legendary Halftime shows over the course of the last 30 years, but which others make the list? Let's find out!
10 Michael Jackson - 1993
When it comes to Super Bowl Halftime shows, there is no one who could do it as well as the king of pop himself, Michael Jackson. The "Thriller" singer performed in front of 100 million viewers, which turned out to be more than the actual football game, in January 1993 at the Pasadena, California's Rose Bowl.
After two minutes of pure silence, the crowd roared for MJ, who came out on stage to perform his medley of hits, including "Billie Jean", "Black Or White", and "We Are The World" to name a few.
9 Aerosmith - 2001
When it comes to rock and roll, Aerosmith definitely comes to mind! The group took over the 2001 Halftime show, but they didn't do it alone! In addition to singing their hearts out to their hit songs "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" and "Dream On", the rock legends were joined on stage by none other than pop royalty, Britney Spears and NSYNC.
As if that weren't enough, the finale song featured Aerosmith, Britney, Nelly, and Mary J. Blige, making it one of the most star-studded shows in history, hence its appearance on this list!
8 U2 - 2002
The 2002 Super Bowl was the first to follow the September 11 attacks, leading the Irish rockers to pay tribute to the victims of the horrendous attack in New York City. U2's lead, Bono, displayed an American flag within his coat standing with those affected.
The entire evening was filled with love and light, which was made possible through the band's many hit songs, including "Beautiful Day", "MLF" and "Where The Streets Have No Name", making it a night to remember!
7 Janet Jackson - 2004
The 2004 Superbowl Halftime show featured none other than Janet Jackson herself! The diva reigned throughout the 90s and managed to become one of the most successful female artists of all time, therefore, her headlining the Halftime show was quite the feat.
Despite the performance being iconic in and of itself, it was the wardrobe malfunction that occurred during Janet's performance with Justin Timberlake that led to her breast being exposed on stage.
The controversy was talked about across the globe and Janet's career took a massive hit after being left to deal with the aftermath sans Justin. The "Scream" singer officially received an apology from Timberlake this year after all this time!
6 Prince - 2007
Prince has also graced the Super Bowl Halftime show and is regarded as one of the best to have done so! The "Kiss" singer performed in Miami during the acclaimed event in 2007 and tore the house down with a mix of both covers and original songs, including "We Will Rock You", "Proud Mary", and "Baby I'm A Star".
In addition to his stellar stage presence, it was Prince's astounding guitar solo with nothing but his silhouette that completely stole the show. Things later went from good to great when Prince began to perform "Purple Rain" as rain actually began to pour down onto the stage. Iconic!
5 Beyonce - 2013
Beyonce took the SuperBowl Halftime stage back in 2013 and certainly knew exactly what she was doing! The "Crazy In Love" singer brought it all, whether it be the dance moves, pyrotechnics, graphics, or fellow friends and former Destiny's Child members, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams.
The trio, who reigned throughout the 90s and early 2000s, completely made the show! This would mark Beyonce's first time on the stage, as she'd make a return three years later alongside Bruno Mars.
4 Katy Perry - 2015
Katy Perry took over the show back in 2015 and did quite the stellar job! The event took place at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona, where Katy took the stage alongside surprise guests Lenny Kravitz and rap icon, Missy Elliott.
While Katy definitely stole the show, the singer made headlines after the shark during her "Teenage Dream" went viral! The shark, deemed as "Left Shark" by the Internet, went on to become a sensation following his dance moves that fans at home could not get enough of!
3 Lady Gaga - 2017
Lady Gaga took the Super Bowl Halftime stage back in 2017 and completely proved herself as a major music powerhouse. The singer, who first debuted back in 2008, has had one of the most successful careers of our time, and rightfully so!
After starting atop of the stadium, Lady Gaga jumped down into the air as she made way to the stage to perform her medley of hits including "Bad Romance", "Poker Face", and "Million Reasons" and she managed to do it all without any guests!
2 JLo & Shaira - 2020
If there are two people who could have done the Super Bowl with perfection, it is none other than Jennifer Lopez and Shakira. The duo made history as the first-ever female-duo to headline the Halftime show, and did they ever deliver!
While they both shined on their own, their performance together is what made it clear that nobody will top a show like that in a very long time. Considering the duo can bring the vocals, and the dance moves, fans were astounded as both Latin singers showed them how it's done, which ended up scoring the two an Emmy Nomination!
1 Coldplay - 2016
Coldplay headlined the Halftime show back in 2016 and certainly made their mark! The group has made a name for themselves in the industry, especially when it comes to rock.
While Coldplay smashed it out at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, the show was made when none other than pop icon, Beyonce and Bruno Mars joined the band on stage for what would become a major moment in music history.