The Best and Worst Super Bowl Halftime Shows of All Time
For many viewers, the Super Bowl is less about the sport and more about the spectacle. Ever since Michael Jackson redefined the halftime show in 1993, the format has become a high-stakes performance, capable of cementing a musical act’s legacy or turning it into a national punchline.
It’s a gamble with zero middle ground. For every career-defining spectacle, you get a head-scratcher like Tony Bennett performing on an Indiana Jones set. I’ve combed through decades of halftime history to separate the legends from the letdowns. Here’s my definitive ranking of the absolute best and worst Super Bowl halftime shows.
The best Super Bowl halftime shows
Believe it or not, the coveted Super Bowl halftime show hasn’t always been a showcase for the hottest pop stars of right now and legacy musical acts of yesteryear. Up until the 1990s, it was mostly just marching bands and drill teams (and once, a troupe of Elvis impersonators).
But that all changed when the halftime show became a sensational, must-see event in its own right. These are the performances that set the standard, combining spectacle, setlists, and sheer star power into 12 minutes of perfection.
6. Aerosmith, NSYNC, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, and Nelly (2001)
Rock vampires Aerosmith sharing the stage with boy band NSYNC was strange enough, but then it threw in Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, and Nelly for “Walk This Way”? Pure shiny-pants chaos. Fun note: This was the first year that fans were allowed on the field, further amping the halftime anarchy.
5. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, and Eminem (2022)
Staged to look like a cluster of simultaneous house parties in SoFi Stadium, Dr. Dre threw a tribute to hip-hop history with his own hits and some from Snoop Dogg, (once again) Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, and a surprise, upside-down 50 Cent. Easily the most L.A. halftime show ever.
4. Jennifer Lopez and Shakira (2020)
As Spinal Tap once asked, “What’s wrong with being sexy?” Latina powerhouses Jennifer Lopez and Shakira furiously shimmied through their respective hits in a spectacular set that seemed designed to shock conservative viewers. Mission accomplished: The FCC received over 1,300 complaints about it.
3. Katy Perry, Lenny Kravitz, and Missy Elliott (2015)
Left Shark. This one was all about Left Shark.
2. Lady Gaga (2017)
Lady Gaga’s glitzy, political halftime show was a sci-fi stunner that wasn’t afraid to take on newly elected President Trump and the Republican Right. After opening with “God Bless America” and “This Land Is Your Land,” Gaga took flight and blazed through her hits—literally—accompanied by a flamethrower.
1. Prince (2007)
Until Prince comes back from the dead, backed by an also-resurrected Whitney Houston and Jimi Hendrix, his thrilling performance at Super Bowl XLI is the halftime show that will never be topped. How do you beat Prince shredding the “Purple Rain” guitar solo in the actual rain? You don’t. It’s a stone-cold classic and one of the best live music performances of all time.
The worst Super Bowl halftime shows
They can’t all be gems. Now that you’ve caught up on the triumphs, it’s only fair that I flag some of the fumbles. After all, there’s rarely any middle ground when it comes to these halftime shows. From awkward collaborations to baffling theme park tie-ins, here are six performances that dropped the ball.
6. The Blues Brothers, ZZ Top, and James Brown (1997)
Not even the combined powers of Super Bowl XXXI guests ZZ Top and James Brown could overcome the lameness of the Blues Brothers cosplay of Dan Aykroyd, John Goodman, and Jim Belushi. As a singer and fill-in for his late brother John, Jim makes a decent offstage cannabis farmer (see: “Growing Belushi” on Discovery).
5. Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, and Toni Braxton (2000)
It was one of the rare times the Super Bowl aired on ABC, so the network’s owner, Disney, used it to promote the Epcot offshoot “Tapestry of Nations.” This meant no hits from Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, or Toni Braxton, just unfamiliar songs and weird narration by Edward James Olmos.
4. Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, and The Judds (1994)
They may seem like a natural fit, but country music and the Super Bowl just don’t mix—the 1994 halftime show featuring Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, and The Judds proved that, as it was the first and last to twang. The “Rockin’ Country Sunday” dud was all hat, no cattle, and a waste of fluorescent lights.
3. Justin Timberlake (2018)
He didn’t invite Janet Jackson back after the 2004 Super Bowl halftime fiasco, so it looked like Justin Timberlake thought he could carry the show himself. Nope. Aside from a college marching band and a cover song/image projection of hometown Minneapolis hero Prince, JT alone just took the L.
2. The Who (2010)
Like ABC, CBS loves corporate network synergy—so why not roll out rock geezers The Who to perform their trio of adapted CSI theme songs? “Who Are You?” (from “CSI”), “Won’t Get Fooled Again” (“CSI: Miami”), and “Baba O’Reilly” (“CSI: NY”) were fine but ultimately upstaged by the sci-fi stage itself.
1. Maroon 5, Travis Scott, and Big Boi (2019)
They have more than a few hits, but it’s unlikely you know anyone who’s ever proclaimed “OMG! Maroon 5 is my favorite band!” Adam Levine and his backup bros went through the motions with all the generic energy of a Coldplay tribute act after being introduced by a seemingly unconvinced Pepsi logo. Did Adam at least get his shirt back?
