1. Kendrick Lamar (2025)

Kendrick Lamar didn’t just play the Super Bowl; he deconstructed it. Dubbed “The Great American Game,” the performance abandoned the traditional pop format in favor of a highly political work of performance art. Actor Samuel L. Jackson anchored the show as a satirical ‘Uncle Sam,’  a narrative move used to highlight the Great American Divide. Singer SZA joined Lamar for a breathtaking, soulful interlude of “All the Stars,” providing a moment of grace before the defiant finale: a cinematic victory lap of “Not Like Us” featuring a surprise cameo from tennis player Serena Williams. The set became the most-watched Super Bowl performance of all time with 133.5 million viewers, and this was no accident. Those record-breaking numbers were a direct result of Lamar’s bold fusion of performance art and political symbolism. Kendrick’s performance wasn’t just a half-time show, but one of the most iconic performances to grace the world’s biggest stage.

2. Michael Jackson (1993)

You can’t mention iconic Super Bowl performances without mentioning the first one to make it happen. Before Michael Jackson took the stage at the 27th Annual Super Bowl, the halftime show was little more than a “bathroom break” filled with marching bands. Jackson shattered that tradition, catapulting onto the stage and standing in statue-like silence for two agonizingly cool minutes while the crowd went wild. The king of Pop delivered a masterclass in tension and release, gliding through a medley of “Billie Jean” and “Black or White” before ending with a massive, 3,500-child choir for “Heal the World.” For the first time in history, the TV ratings actually went up during halftime, reaching a then-record 133.4 million viewers. Those massive numbers were a direct result of Jackson’s incredible star power and plan to turn the game into a global concert. By proving that the halftime show could be just as big as the game itself, he created the blueprint for every artist who performed at the Super Bowl after him. 

3. Prince (2007)

When the sky opened up over Miami during the 41st Super Bowl half-time show, producers panicked,  but Prince simply asked if they could “make it rain harder.” Performing in a literal tropical downpour on a slick, neon-lit stage, he delivered what many consider the most raw and talented set in the game’s history. Rather than sticking to his standard greatest hits, Prince surprised the world by blending his own classics like “Let’s Go Crazy” with aggressive rock covers of artists like Foo Fighters and Jimi Hendrix. The night reached its peak during the finale of “Purple Rain,” where Prince shredded a guitar solo through the storm, his silhouette projected onto a massive glowing sheet against the sky. By turning a potential weather disaster into his own personal special effect, he created a transcendent moment that remains unmatched in Super Bowl history. 

4. Rihanna (2023)

After a seven-year hiatus, Rihanna returned for a Super Bowl performance that prioritized effortless cool over complex choreography. Dressed in head-to-toe red and suspended on futuristic floating platforms, she shocked fans by revealing her pregnancy before delivering a variety of songs spanning her whole career. Her performance was a bold fusion of performance art and personal symbolism, using the world’s biggest stage to celebrate motherhood on her own terms. By commanding the stage alone without a single guest performer, she proved that her presence alone could captivate a global audience, and curated an iconic performance which celebrated motherhood, business, and self-agency. 

5. Beyonce (2013)

Beyoncé’s halftime takeover was a masterclass in precision, turning the Super Bowl into a high-stakes showcase of vocal strength and intense choreography. Stepping out onto a stage made of fire and neon, she delivered a breathless sequence of hits that hit its peak with a surprise Destiny’s Child reunion. The energy was so intense that it reportedly caused a stadium blackout just minutes after she walked off stage. Her set utilized an all-female band to push a message of empowerment to the world. By delivering a performance so electrifying that it literally blew the lights out, Beyoncé solidified herself as one of the most iconic acts in Super Bowl history.