-
The Super Bowl is the biggest Sunday of the year, and not just because of the big game. There's also the beckoning promise of a star-studded halftime show! We've seen everything from New Kids on the Block to Bruce Springsteen and everything in between, but what was the absolute most incredible halftime show of all time?
Credit: Cary Edmondson, Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
-
The Black Eyed Peas? Sure. Usher? Yeah, OK, it's 2011. Slash? Now we're talking. Things were a bit iffy when Fergie and Slash teamed up for their version of "Sweet Child O' Mine." It was the type of performance you either really loved or really hated. Fergie's great, but she's no Axl Rose. Arguments ensued. Super Bowl watch-parties were torn apart.
(Photo: Getty)
Credit: Al Bello, Getty Images
-
NKOTB joined forces with a bunch of Disney characters to bring "A Small World" to the biggest sporting event of the year. Yeah, that happened. This was back in the day when the show had a theme each year. In 1991, it was A Small World: Celebrating 25 Years of the Super Bowl. Bringing on the hottest early '90s boy band and Mickey Mouse totally made sense at the time, apparently.
(Photo: Getty)
Credit: Gin Ellis, NFL
-
Another year, another theme. In 1992, a tribute to the Winter Olympics welcomed Gloria Estefan and a pair of Olympic figure skaters, Brian Boitano and Dorothy Hamill. But it was what happened on another network that drew the viewers. In Living Color aired on Fox at the same time as the Halftime Show, stealing eyes away from the performance. This encouraged the Super Bowl peeps to kick up the jams in subsequent years.
(Photo: Getty)
Credit: Ron Galella, Ltd., WireImage
-
The Blues Brothers and ZZ Top. What more can you ask for? James Brown, of course! The blues was in full effect back in '95. It was fun. It was funky.
(Photo: Getty)
Credit: Jeff Kravitz, FilmMagic
-
Patti LaBelle, Teddy Pendergrass, Tony Bennett ... this is shaping up to be a cool show, right? And it wasn't terrible! If you were a huge Indiana Jones fan in the '90s (and even if you still are) it was fantastic. If not, it was just plain cheesy.
Credit: DOUG COLLIER/AFP/Getty Images
-
Smokey Robinson, Martha Reeves, The Temptations, Queen Latifah, Boyz II Men and the Grambling State Marching Band celebrated 40 years of Motown music at this Halftime Show. Coincidentally, The Grambling State Marching Band performed at several shows from the 1960s-1980s, so this was somewhat of a homecoming for them. It was a fun trip down memory lane but, ironically, not the most memorable Halftime Show.
(Photo: Getty)
Credit: DOUG COLLIER/AFP/Getty Images
-
In 1994, the Super Bowl got a little bit country with Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt and The Judds. For the big finale, a ton of amazing artists -- everyone from Stevie Wonder to Elijah Wood -- took the stage to perform with Wynonna Judd.
(Photo: Getty)
Credit: George Rose, Getty Images
-
Not every Halftime Show has a narrator. This one was narrated by Edward James Olmos, which is crazy cool. Though Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias and Toni Braxton all put on a great show, the theme felt a bit forced and slightly disconnected.
(Photo: Getty)
Credit: Brian Bahr, Getty Images
-
The set list for this femme-forward show went from "Man, I Feel Like A Woman" and onward to "I'm Just A Girl." It could have been girl-power central in the midst of the Super Bowl (awesome!), but then someone invited Sting.
(Photo: Getty)
Credit: Getty
-
This show was (organized?) chaos. LMFAO, a bunch of Cirque du Soleil gymnasts ushered in the world's only Madonna, flanked by Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. It was tough to decide exactly what to focus on. The opportunistic viewers were looking at M.I.A. when she flashed a not-so-desirable hand signal that was far from broadcast appropriate.
(Photo: USATSI)
Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports, USA TODAY Sports
-
Back in the day, "those guys that sing the CSI theme song" were huge rock stars. The Who reminded us just who they are when they took over the Halftime Show in 2010. Unfortunately for The Who, their Halftime Show came just one year after Bruce Springsteen's high energy, full length jam session of a Super Bowl performance. In comparison, they were a tad lackluster.
(Photo: Getty)
Credit: C.M. Guerrero, MCT via Getty Images
-
Gloria Estefan came back to the Halftime Show in 1999, but this time she brought Stevie Wonder with her. Good choice. Plus, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy -- so hot in the late '90s -- gave the show a swinging start. This was one seemingly random assemblage of artists that actually worked out well.
(Photo: Getty)
Credit: Joe Traver, Getty Images
-
Bless whoever thought it was a good idea to lump these contrasting artists together into one show. Aerosmith and *NSYNC tag-teamed their hits and brought out their buddies for a "Walk This Way" finale for the books, featuring Mary J. Blige, Nelly and Britney Spears. Looking back, it's as if this halftime performance is a perfect '90s time capsule.
(Photo: Getty)
Credit: Doug Pensinger, Getty Images
-
This show was ... strange. Bruno Mars puts on a killer performance, as do the Red Hot Chili Peppers. But when they come together it's like when your little brother and your older brother blast their music from separate rooms at the same time. The addition of the Chili Peppers seemed like an afterthought. It didn't help that the Broncos v. Seahawks matchup turned out to be less than entertaining.
(Photo: Getty)
Credit: Elsa, Getty Images
-
U2 performed following the attacks of September 11. Honestly, there are few better options than the (red) man and his band. Bono's entrance was a bit shaky as he made his way through the crowd singing the first verse to "Beautiful Day." Later, the band played softly while a list of the fallen scrolled toward the heavens. The show was emotionally appropriate and pulled at America's heartstrings.
(Photo: Getty)
Credit: Frank Micelotta Archive, Getty Images
-
When Coldplay was announced as Super Bowl 50 Halftime Show headliners, people were less than enthusiastic. But in the weeks leading up to the show, it was revealed that Beyoncé and Bruno Mars would be joining the alt-rock band centerfield.
Coldplay kicked things off, leading into the Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars hit, "Uptown Funk." Beyoncé wowed with a just-released-the-day-before-the-game anthem. Bruno Mars and Beyoncé took things up yet another notch when they rallied their crews for an epic dance-off.
Coldplay closed the show by showing appreciation for previous Super Bowl performances, tying the "Past, Present, and Future" theme together with a colorful bow.
Credit: Robert Deutsch, Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
-
In 2006, The Rolling Stones and The Super Bowl were both celebrating four decades (plus a little extra, in the Stones' case) of rockin'. Mick Jagger and the gang started things up with the obvious ("Start Me Up"), then brought the halftime house down with "I Can't Get No Satisfaction."
(Photo: Getty)
Credit: Theo Wargo, WireImage
-
To celebrate 30 years of Super Bowl fun, Diana Ross performed a Halftime Show fit for a diva. She arrived on a sparkling pedestal, sang her legendary hits surrounded by a dynamic dance team, and looked fabulous doing it. Even her exit was diva-licious: A helicopter swooped down to take her away.
(Photo: Getty)
Credit: Focus On Sport, Getty Images
-
What this show lacked in in-your-face stage stimuli it made up for in pure talent. "American Girl," "I Won't Back Down," and "Free Fallin'" provided a Halftime Show that everyone could sing along with. While some Super Bowl Halftime Shows are total spectacles, this one was truly all about the music and beautifully done.
(Photo: Getty)
Credit: Jeff Kravitz, FilmMagic
-
The King of Pop took the center stage in 1993. Well, first a few MJ decoys popped up all around the stadium, then he took the stage. After what seemed like an hour of frantic cheering, he jammed through a perfect selection of his hits, including "Black or White," "Billie Jean" and "Heal the World." The crowd's unforgettable reaction bumps this one up on the list.
(Photo: Getty)
Credit: Steve Granitz, WireImage
-
Sir Paul McCartney kept things simple for his Super Bowl halftime performance. No crazy entrance required. Paul laid out a few Beatles hits on his guitar. Then he headed toward the piano for a rousing rendition of "Live and Let Die." The big finish? A Super Bowl-sized sing-a-long of "Hey Jude." It was perfectly classic.
(Photo: Getty)
Credit: Kevin Mazur, NFL
-
The Beyoncé Super Bowl Halftime Show. It got better with every second. As if Queen Bey herself wasn't enough, viewers took part in the much anticipated Destiny's Child reunion. And then, just when you thought she was done, she shut it down. Seriously, all the way down. Power ceased to flow through the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, delaying the game more than half an hour.
(Photo: USATSI)
Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports, USA TODAY Sports
-
The Left Shark social media sensation that followed this show was enough to rate this performance super high on this list. Then throw in Lenny Kravitz, a giant, animatronic tiger, the return of Missy Elliott, plus Katy Perry in all of her glory, and you've got the most watched Super Bowl Halftime Show to date. Major bonus points.
(Photo: USATSI)
Credit: Joe Camporeale, Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
-
Bruce Springsteen Halftimed so hard that he slid his crotch right into an unsuspecting camera lense. Meanwhile, the one-and-only E Street Band wailed one hell of a soundtrack. You're welcome, America. So, this raises the question: Who could be more of a boss than The Boss?
(Photo: Getty)
Credit: Lexington Herald-Leader, MCT via Getty Images
-
Sure, Beyoncé turned the lights out. Yeah, Bruce pushed the time allowance. And OK, Katy Perry captured the most viewers. But Prince made it rain. Correction: He made it Purple Rain. He played that symbolic guitar like no one else can or will ever be able to. The show was magic in Miami. Bow down and accept the fact that, whether we're in the phase of a pronounceable name or not, he holds the medal for all-time best Super Bowl Halftime Show ever.
(Photo: Getty)
Credit: Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images
