Ranking the Last 10 Super Bowl Halftime Shows
Some Super Bowl halftime shows are remembered for years. Others barely survive the night. These are the last ten performances, ranked.
#10 Maroon 5, Travis Scott, Big Boi
You don’t kick someone when they’re down — but I’ll try anyway.
#9 Usher, Alicia Keys, Jermaine Dupri, H.E.R., will.i.am, Lil Jon, Ludacris
Honestly, from this spot on, every performance here has a right to exist. Since the switch to Apple Music, the production and camera work have become absolutely unreal — everything looked great, Usher included. One question though: do you remember anything from this performance, other than Alicia Keys’ infamous off-key moment that was quietly fixed in the YouTube version?
#8 Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake is one of the few male pop stars who can truly put on a show. He sings well, dances well, and is capable of much more. Unfortunately, we caught him at the Super Bowl during his country era — so SexyBack was performed by a guy in khaki pants, not the glossy 2000s superstar. Would I change his outfit, reshuffle the setlist, and erase Can’t Stop The Feeling from memory like a bad dream? Yes. Was this performance as bad as the internet loves to say? No.
#7 The Weeknd
I call this the “Bruno Mars effect” — when the Super Bowl opportunity comes a couple of years earlier than it probably should. The pandemic didn’t help either, limiting the full scale of what could’ve been done. It was a beautiful journey through The Weeknd’s career, but it lacked a certain power.
#6 Coldplay, Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, Mark Ronson
Let’s finally give Coldplay their flowers too, because eternal firecracker Chris Martin looked fantastic on that stage even in broad daylight — and their catalog alone could easily carry a full show. Beyoncé and Bruno Mars’ comeback, of course, was the cherry on top.
#5 Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, J Balvin
Two Latin divas managed to put their egos aside and unite for one massive Latin slay. Each gave it their all, turning the stadium into a vibrant carnival packed with universally loved hits.
#4 Lady Gaga
When it comes to stagecraft, Lady Gaga almost never misses. Her Super Bowl performance was no exception. Bright, spectacular, and with live vocals — which is nearly a rarity for pop artists at the Super Bowl. And let’s be honest: in today’s world, there are far fewer true A-list stars than the Super Bowl demands every year. So it’s only a matter of time before we see Gaga on that stage again.
#3 Rihanna
She showed up (already good), picked up a microphone (even better), and performed (iconic). Rihanna could’ve done absolutely nothing on that stage — her bulletproof hits would’ve done all the work for her. But the sleek staging, fashion-forward dancers, and Rihanna’s undiminished charisma did their thing. The song mix was immaculate, and the replay value of this set is absolutely insane.
#2 Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Samuel L. Jackson, Mustard, Serena Williams
It’s hard to add anything to my in-depth breakdown of this legendary set. There’s something deeply satisfying about watching the most talented artists receive universal recognition. And Kendrick Lamar never gets tired of proving that he is a diamond. A rare one.
#1 Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent
What’s better than Kendrick Lamar? Kendrick Lamar with the entire West Coast. Dr. Dre’s set with his friends and musical protégés was — and still is — a true triumph not only for rap as a genre, but for the entire music industry, which took far too long to accept that hip-hop is one of the most innovative and important genres of our time. Bravo. No notes.
