The Super Bowl halftime show is one of the most-viewed musical performances in the world every year, and performers always want to start it on a high note.
From the Grambling State Marching Band in the 1960s all the way to the pop stars of the 2020s, let's take a look at the first song performed at each Super Bowl halftime show.
First Song Performed at Every Super Bowl Halftime Show
Super Bowl (Season) | Headlining Artist | Song |
LIX (2024) | Kendrick Lamar | "GNX (Teaser)" |
LVIII (2023) | Usher | "My Way" |
LVII (2022) | Rihanna | "What's My Name?" |
LVI (2021) | Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar | "The Next Episode" |
LV (2020) | The Weeknd | "Call Out My Name" |
LIV (2019) | Shakira and Jennifer Lopez | "Dare (La La La)" |
LIII (2018) | Maroon 5 | "Harder To Breathe" |
LII (2017) | Justin Timberlake | "Filthy" |
LI (2016) | Lady Gaga | "God Bless America" |
50 (2015) | Coldplay | "Yellow" (a capella version) |
XLIX (2014) | Katy Perry | "Roar" |
XLVIII (2013) | Bruno Mars | "Billionaire" |
XLVII (2012) | Beyonce | "Run the World (Girls)" |
XLVI (2011) | Madonna | "Vogue" |
XLV (2010) | The Black Eyed Peas | "I Gotta Feeling" |
XLIV (2009) | The Who | "Pinball Wizard" |
XLIII (2008) | Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band | "Tenth Avenue" |
XLII (2007) | Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers | "American Girl" |
XLI (2006) | Prince | "We Will Rock You" (intro), "Let's Go Crazy" |
XL (2005) | The Rolling Stones | "Start Me Up" |
XXXIX (2004) | Paul McCartney | "Drive My Car" |
XXXVIII (2003) | Janet Jackson, P. Diddy, Nelly, Kid Rock, Justin Timberlake, Jessica Simpson and Spirit of Houston and Ocean of Soul marching bands | "The Way You Move" (by Spirit of Houston and Ocean of Soul) |
XXXVII (2002) | Shania Twain and No Doubt | "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" |
XXXVI (2001) | U2 | "Beautiful Day" |
XXXV (2000) | Aerosmith and NSYNC | "Bye Bye Bye" |
XXXIV (1999) | Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, Toni Braxton, 80-person choir from Georgia State | "Celebrate the Future Hand in Hand" |
XXXIII (1998) | Glorida Estefan, Stevie Wonder, and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy | "Go Daddy O" |
XXXII (1997) | Boyz II Men, Smokey Robinson, Martha Reeves, The Temptations, Queen Latifah, and Grambling State Marching Band | "Get Ready" |
XXXI (1996) | The Blues Brothers, ZZ Top and James Brown | "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love" |
XXX (1995) | Diana Ross | "Stop in the Name of Love" |
XXIX (1994) | Patti LaBelle, Teddy Pendergrass, Tony Bennett, Marion Ravenwood, Arturo Sandoval, and Miami Sound Machine | "Release Yourself" |
XXVIII (1993) | Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, and The Judds | "Tuckered Out" |
XXVII (1992) | Michael Jackson | "Jam" |
XXVI (1991) | Gloria Estefan and the University of Minnesota Marching Band | "Winter Magic" |
XXV (1990) | New Kids on the Block and local children's choir | "It's a Small World After All" |
XXIV (1989) | Pete Fountain, Doug Kershaw, Irma Thomas, and New Orleans-area marching bands | "(Up A) Lazy River" |
XXIII (1988) | Elvis Presto (Elvis Presley impersonator) | "Rock This Town" |
XXII (1987) | Chubby Checker with 88 grand piano players | A performance from the 88 grand piano players |
XXI (1986) | George Burns, Mickey Rooney, Grambling State Marching Band, USC Marching Band | "Strike up the Band" |
XX (1985) | Up With People | "Beat of the Future" |
XIX (1984) | Tops in Blue | Unknown |
XVIII (1983) | Florida and Florida State Marching Bands | "Hooray for Hollywood" |
XVII (1982) | Los Angeles Super Drill Team | "Look to the Rainbow" |
XVI (1981) | Up With People | Medley: "The Twist," "Cool Jerk," "Monster Mash," "The Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini," "Wipeout," and "Surfin' USA" |
XV (1980) | Southern University Marching Band, Helen O'Connell | Unknown |
XIV (1979) | Up With People, Grambling State Marching Bands | "We Are Many, We Are One" |
XIII (1978) | Ken Hamilton, various Caribbean bands | "Come to My Island" |
XII (1977) | The Apache Band, Pete Fountain, Al Hirt | Unknown |
XI (1976) | Los Angeles Unified All-City Band, The New Mouseketeers | "It's A Big Wide Wonderful World" |
X (1975) | Up With People | "Good Time Neighborhood Band" |
IX (1974) | Mercer Ellington, Grambling State University Marching Bands | Duke Ellington medley |
VIII (1973) | Texas Longhorn Band with Miss Texas 1973 Judy Mallett playing the fiddle | "Orange Blossom Special" |
VII (1972) | University of Michigan Marching Band, Woody Herman, Andy Williams | "Put on a Happy Face" |
VI (1971) | Ella Fitzgerald, Carol Channing, Al Hirt, USAFA Cadet Chorale | "Mack the Knife" |
V (1970) | Southeast Missouri State Marching Band, Anita Bryant, Up With People | "Battle Hymn of the Republic" |
IV (1969) | Marguerite Piazza, Doc Severinsen, Al Hirt, Lionel Hampton, Southern University Marching Band | "Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?" |
III (1968) | Florida A&M Band with Miami-area high school bands | "Battle Hymn of the Republic" |
II (1967) | Miami-area high school marching bands | Unknown |
I (1966) | University of Arizona Marching Band, Grambling State Marching Band | "The Sound of Music" |
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