First introduced in 1967, the Halftime show is now an integral part of the Super Bowl spectacle.

First introduced in 1967, the Halftime show is now an integral part of the Super Bowl spectacle.
TIMOTHY A. CLARY | AFP
Super Bowl

It’s not Beyoncé or Rihanna: This is the most watched Super Bowl Halftime show ever

Paul Reidy
Redactor web de AS English
Irish native who switched from the music industry to the world of sport moving from Universal Music to AS in 2017. A keen runner, soccer player and now discovering the world's fastest growing sport of padel. A fútbol fanatic covering LaLiga, MLS, Liga MX and other offbeat stories from the global game. Can always be found rooting for the underdog.
Update:

The Seattle Seahawks take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX on Sunday.

The game marks the end of the 2025 NFL season and the winner will be crowned as champion of Super Bowl LX.

Halftime Show

Kendrick Lamar performed at the Halftime Show in 2025. The performance got good reviews, “quite a spectacle — perhaps the peak of any rap battle, ever,” said Jon Caramnica of the New York Times.

Sidney Madden of NPR commented on the performance as well, “Lamar played into fears that he’s too dangerous for the country’s biggest stage with sinister pleasure, making it clear that he would not soften his contempt or his approach for the mass audience.”

It’s not Beyoncé or Rihanna: This is the most watched Super Bowl Halftime show ever
Kendrick Lamar ERIK S. LESSER

Lamar ousted Usher

Super Bowl LVII had made history with the game drawing the biggest ratings in history. Halftime performer Usher benefitted as his set eclipsed the 121.1 million viewers that Rihanna saw tune in for her 2023 performance in Arizona.

But, Kendrick Lamar’s set set a new record in 2025 with and estimated 133.5 million viewers.

It’s not Beyoncé or Rihanna: This is the most watched Super Bowl Halftime show ever
Usher JAMIE SQUIRE

Prior to Rihanna, Katy Perry held the record for highest viewers with her 2015 show.

The California native saw 121 million tune-in as Lenny Kravitz, Missy Elliot and the Arizona State University Sun Devil Marching Band joined Perry as she performed hits like “Roar,” “California Gurls” and “Firework.”

For Super Bowl LX, Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny will take the stage. The No.1 Global arist of 2025 will look to build on his fan base while performing at halftime of the Seahawks vs Patriots game in San Francisco.

Super Bowl Halftime performers (1967-2025)

2025: Kendrick Lamar, SZA
2024: Usher, Alicia Keys, Jermaine Dupri, H.E.R., Will.I.Am, Lil Jon, Ludacris.
2023: Rihanna
2022: Eminem, Dr. Dre. Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar and Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent, Anderson .Paak
2021: The Weeknd
2020: Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, J Balvin
2019: Maroon 5, Travis Scott, Big Boi
2018: Justin Timberlake, The Tennessee Kids
2017: Lady Gaga
2016: Coldplay, Beyoncé, Bruno Mars
2015: Katy Perry, Lenny Kravitz and Missy Elliott
2014: Bruno Mars, Red Hot Chili Peppers
2013: Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child
2012: Madonna, CeeLo Green, LMFAO, Nicki Minaj, M.I.A.
2011: The Black Eyed Peas, Usher, Slash
2010: The Who
2009: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
2008: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
2007: Prince and the Florida A&M marching band
2006: The Rolling Stones
2005: Paul McCartney
2004: Janet Jackson, Kid Rock, P. Diddy, Nelly and Justin Timberlake
2003: Shania Twain, No Doubt and Sting
2002: U2
2001: ‘The Kings of Rock and Pop’ with Aerosmith, ‘N’Sync, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige and Nell’
2000: ‘A Tapestry of Nations’ with Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, Toni Braxton
1999: ‘Celebration of Soul, Salsa and Swing’ with Stevie Wonder, Gloria Estefan, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy 
1998: ‘A Tribute to Motown’s 40th Anniversary’ with Boyz II Men, Smokey Robinson, Queen Latifah, Martha Reeves and The Temptations
1997: ‘Blues Brothers Bash’ with Dan Akroyd, John Goodman, James Belushi, James Brown and ZZ Top)
1996: Diana Ross
1995: ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye’ with Tony Bennett, Patti LaBelle, Arturo Sandoval, the Miami Sound Machine.
1994: ‘Rockin’ Country Sunday’ with Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, Wynonna & Naomi Judd. 
1993: ‘Heal the World’ with Michael Jackson.
1992: ‘Winter Magic’ with Gloria Estefan, Brian Boitano and Dorothy Hamill
1991: ‘A Small World Salute to 25 Years of the Super Bowl’ with New Kids on the Block
1990: ‘Salute to New Orleans’ with trumpeter Pete Fountain, Doug Kershaw & Irma Thomas
1989: ‘Be Bop Bamboozled’, 3D effects
1988: ‘Something Grand’ with 88 grand pianos, the Rockettes and Chubby Checker
1987: ‘Salute to Hollywood’s 100th Anniversary’
1986: ‘Beat of the Future’
1985: ‘A World of Children’s Dreams’
1984: ‘Super Bowl XVIII’s Salute to the Superstars of the Silver Screen’
1983: ‘KaleidoSUPERscope’
1982: ‘A Salute to the 60s and Motown’
1981: ‘To Mardi Gras Festival’
1980: ‘A Salute to the Big Band Era’ with Up with People
1979: ‘Super Bowl XIII Carnival’ with Ken Hamilton and various Caribbean bands
1978: ‘From Paris to the Paris of America’ with Tyler Apache Belles, Pete Fountain and Al Hirt
1977: ‘It’s a Small World’ 
1976: ‘200 Years and Just a Baby,’, tribute to America’s Bicentennial
1975: ‘Tribute to Duke Ellington’ with Mercer Ellington and Grambling State band
1974: ‘A Musical America’ with the University of Texas band
1973: ‘Happiness Is’ with the University of Michigan band and Woody Herman
1972: ‘Salute to Louis Armstrong’ with Ella Fitzgerald, Carol Channing and Al Hirtt
1971: Florida A&M band
1970: Carol Channing
1969: ‘America Thanks’ with the Florida A&M University band
1968: Grambling State Band
1967: University of Arizona and Grambling State Marching Band

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