Sports

The Top Ten Super Bowl Halftime Shows Of All Time Ranked

(Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

Mike Brest Reporter
Font Size:

The Philadelphia Eagles are taking on the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl this Sunday. New England is a heavy favorite and has five-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady leading the team under center. Philadelphia on the other hand, is led by backup quarterback Nick Foles, who had never won a playoff game before this season.

There are a number of interesting storylines with the game. Will Tom Brady win his sixth championship and definitively declare himself the G.O.A.T.? Could the Eagles win their first Super Bowl in the franchise’s history? Will the city of Philadelphia survive the mass destruction that’s about to happen? But we have to wait and see the answer to the question everyone has been asking — will Justin Timberlake bring Janet Jackson on stage during the halftime show after the 2004 fiasco?

With the hype surrounding this halftime show, the question is can it make it into our top ten halftime shows?

#10 – 1999 – Gloria Estefan, Stevie Wonder, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and Savion Glover

Stevie Wonder performed his classic songs and he gave Estefan another shot at the halftime show.

#9 – 1996 – Diana Ross

Ross’s performance was partially legendary, if no reason other than the multiple wardrobe changes she had during the twelve minute halftime show, but no one would expect any less from her.

#8 – 2006 – Rolling Stones

It’s hard to believe it took so long for the Stones to perform during the halftime show, but they did not disappoint nor did they censor themselves.

#6 – 2005 – Paul McCartney 

McCartney was selected to be a safe option following the catastrophe of the halftime show the year prior, mentioned below, and he did not disappoint one bit.

#6 – 2008 – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Petty’s performance symbolized exactly what the halftime show should be about – singing the classics, pump up the crowd and it was in the midst of one of the most memorable Super Bowls in recent memory.

#5 – 2009 – Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

Even with the huge expectations Springsteen has earned throughout the years, he still amazed during the 2009 halftime show performing some of the classics like “Tenth Avenue Freezeout,” “Born to Run,” and “Glory Days.”

#4 – 2007 – Prince

Prince’s performance was perfect. The game and subsequent show was in the midst of a downpour, but that didn’t stop this legendary singer from hosting one of the best halftime shows ever.

#3 – 1993 – Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson’s performance revolutionized the full capability of what Super Bowl halftime shows could be. He made it a spectacle unlike ever before, and it will never go back.


#2 – 2004 – Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Jessica Simpson, Kid Rock, Nelly and P. Diddy

The performance was relatively tame and wouldn’t have made the cut in the list of the top fifty halftime shows, if it weren’t for JT’s drastic measures at the end of the performance. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) fined CBS for indecency a record $550,000 before a judge overturned the fine years later.

#1 – 2002 – U2

The most important halftime show performance was in 2002, following the attacks on 9/11. U2 continued the healing process for a nation reeling from a such a tragic event. Bono opening his jacket to reveal an American flag interior became a defining moment.