In recent times, the Super Bowl has transcended football to become a cultural phenomenon. As such, ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs’ clash with the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, all eyes aren’t just on players but also on halftime performers.
The event at Allegiant Stadium isn’t just a celebration of football, it has also become sort of a mecca for the country’s biggest music artists. For many, the Super Bowl ends up becoming the biggest show of their career due to the astronomical viewing figures it draws.
Rihanna at the 2023 Super Bowl Halftime Show
Accordingly, let’s take a look at the 10 most-viewed Super Bowl halftime shows of all time and understand what Usher, this year’s headline performer, is up against.
10. Jennifer Lopez and Shakira, 2020 (104.1 million viewers)
The NFL played an absolute blinder by bringing in not one but two Latin pop queens for Super Bowl LIV in Miami. Jennifer Lopez and Shakira joined hands to bring their infectious Latin energy to the forefront, performing 16 songs in under 15 minutes.
Jennifer Lopez and Shakira
Bad Bunny, J Balvin, and Lopez’s daughter Emme Muñiz all joined them onstage as guests to make the outing a memorable celebration of Latin music and culture.
9. Justin Timberlake, 2018 (106.6 million)
The decision to bring back Justin Timberlake to lead another Super Bowl halftime show after the “Nipplegate” scandal of 2004 was certainly a controversial one.
Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake
However, the Prince of Pop vindicated the move by swaying the Minnesota crowd, and millions at home, with hits like Sexy Back and Can’t Stop the Feeling!.
8. Black Eyed Peas, 2011 (110.2 million)
The Super Bowl XLV halftime show organizers perhaps got a feeling that the night was gonna be a good, good night with Black Eyed Peas; they were proven right – and then some.
Black Eyed Peas – Credit: Wikimedia Commons.
More than 110 million viewers watched the musical group spread their magic in Texas through renditions of Boom Boom Pow, Where Is the Love? and of course, I Gotta Feeling.
7. Beyoncé, 2013 (110.8 million)
Beyoncé, her 50-foot-tall burning silhouette, and of course, a medley of songs, including Run The World and Halo, were enough to leave the New Orleans crowd stunned.
Beyoncé performs at the 2013 Super Bowl halftime show
However, Beyoncé mania shot through the roof after Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams joined her on the stage to mark the reunion of Destiny’s Child.
6. Madonna, 2012 ( 114 million)
The Queen of Pop graced the Super Bowl XLVI stage and performed hits like Vogue and Music. She was later joined by Nicki Minaj and M.I.A for Give Me All Your Luvin’.
Madonna at the 2023 Grammy Awards
Madonna’s presence was enough to draw millions of eyeballs, but M.I.A. decided to make more headlines by flipping off the biggest halftime audience ever at the time.
5. Bruno Mars, 2014 (115.3 million)
There are very few performers in today’s times who can engage the audience as well as Bruno Mars. The Locked Out of Heaven star did exactly that at MetLife Stadium by combining with his band The Hooligans.
Bruno Mars’ Super Bowl halftime performance
A guest appearance by Red Hot Chili Peppers further raised the temperature and made the 15-minute stint a memorable experience for everyone involved.
4. Coldplay, 2016 (115.5 million)
The NFL went all out to celebrate Super Bowl 50, roping in Coldplay, Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, and Mark Ronson for the halftime show.
Coldplay’s Chris Martin performing with Beyonce and Bruno Mars
The band’s anthems and plenty of experience of playing in front of sold-out stadiums perfectly gelled with the celebratory setting in Santa Clara, as the whole crowd lent their voices for the iconic Viva la Vida.
3. Lady Gaga, 2017 (118 million)
Lady Gaga opened her performance from the roof of Houston’s NRG Stadium before landing on the stage to get the party rolling with hits like Poker Face, Born This Way, and Paparazzi, among others.
Lady Gaga
She then went on to catch a football, much to everyone’s excitement, to bring curtains down on her performance. The perfect recipe for staggering viewing figures!
2. Katy Perry, 2015 (121 million)
Katy Perry’s roaring popularity, Lenny Kravitz’s timeless aura, and Missy Elliott’s energetic Get Ur Freak On performance combined with Left Shark’s (a backup dancer) viral moves to break the internet.
Katy Perry
The Super Bowl XLIX halftime performance underlined the true power of meme-worthy moments as it not only played a part in the show setting a new viewing figures record but also helped Perry’s performance remain in the headlines for weeks.
1. Rihanna, 2023 (121.017 million)
Before the much-hyped show in Arizona, Rihanna had not performed live since the 2018 Grammys. Yet her presence was enough to draw millions to their screens.
RIhanna’s Super Bowl LVII halftime performance
The bold and beautiful RiRi descended on a floating iPhone and kept everyone glued to their screens by belting out all-timers like Bitch Better Have My Money, We Found Love, Rude Boy, Work and many more. The success of her show was aptly replicated in viewing figures, as more people tuned in to watch the live performance than ever in Super Bowl history.
