The Super Bowl is an event occurring once a year, declaring the NFL Champion in a high-stakes final. The match is long, and of course, there’s a halftime for players to re energize, freshen up, and get their heads in the game. But what about the audience? Wouldn’t they get bored? Well, fear not, because that’s what the halftime show is for!
The first Super Bowl halftime show was in 1967, during the first decade of the Super Bowl’s founding. The audience was kept entertained by a college marching trumpet band playing classics like The Sound of Music. This soon became a tradition and a major part of the Super Bowl’s fame and brand globally.
One of the most iconic halftime shows was in the 90s, when Michael Jackson headlined the 23rd Super Bowl. He rocked the stage with a plethora of performances, including Billie Jean. Some people even today call it the greatest Super Bowl halftime show of all time, which shows how much of a hype it was.
Then came 2019, when a new generation of artists took the stage. Maroon 5 was breaking records and topping charts, so they headlined the event, bringing along superstar rapper Travis Scott and Big Boi. They stunned the crowd with performances of Sicko Mode, Girls Like You, and Sugar, ending the show on an emotional note.
Entering the 2020s, we saw great artists like Shakira, Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez, and The Weeknd take over. In 2022, they brought out the legendary 2000s rap lineup, featuring Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and 50 Cent, which hyped up rap fans all over.
This year’s halftime show was long awaited and was taking place in New Orleans. During September 2024, it was time to decide who would perform. A big option was rapper Lil Wayne, who grew up in New Orleans, and he expected to get the call—but that didn’t happen. Instead, it was given to sensational rapper Kendrick Lamar, who was really doing great in music in 2024. He dropped an album in November called GNX, which topped the Billboard 200. But his more notable work was earlier in the year, during his raging feud with fellow rapper Drake.
Another great artist, SZA, who is a beautiful singer, was featured on GNX and was also invited as a guest performer. Celebrities like Samuel L. Jackson and Serena Williams were present. When the date finally came, people were hyped to witness a remarkable performance, and they got one. However, many bloopers were purposely set up to reference Drake, like the stage, which had PlayStation controller buttons laid out—a shot at Sony, which owns Drake’s label, OVO.
But keeping the beef aside, it was still a great performance. In just 12 minutes, Kendrick and SZA energized the crowd and got them boosted for the next half. Overall, the Super Bowl halftime show is a must-attend at least once in a lifetime. Are you adding it to your bucket list?
WRITTEN BY GRISHM KATEJA AND MANEETH SUDHEER 9E
