Rank It: 2014-2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show Performers

The Super Bowl brings viewers from all over the country, a lot of them being football fans, some watching just for the commercials, and many watching just to see the halftime show.

The annual halftime show has brought some of the biggest names to perform over the past decade.

Some shows were really good… but some were not so good. Here is my ranking of the Super Bowl halftime shows over the past 10 years.

11. 2019 - Maroon 5 ft. Travis Scott and Big Boi

With the clip from Spongebob Squarepants transitioning the song into “SICKO MODE” and Adam Levine taking his shirt off at the end, this performance was all over the place. It wasn’t that bad, but someone had to be last.

10. 2018 - Justin Timberlake

There was just something about this performance that I didn’t love. I’m not the biggest Justin Timberlake fan, but his halftime show impressed me. Despite this, there was no wow factor for me, and nothing too memorable happened.

9. 2016 - Coldplay ft. Beyoncé and Bruno Mars

I thought the opening of Coldplay’s show was really entertaining, and having the whole stadium hold up colored cards was really cool to see. Coldplay’s section of the performance was super fun, but Bruno Mars and Beyoncé are what gave this halftime show some extra points.

8. 2021 - The Weeknd

The Weeknd is a super-talented artist, but something about his halftime show bored me. It was definitely a performance ahead of its time though, because the handheld fish-eye camera would be so funny to use today. The show was good, but I’m putting it this low because he made too much eye contact with me.

7. 2024 - Usher

Usher: the most recent halftime show performer. I honestly didn’t love this year’s halftime show. It was good and all, but it certainly didn’t compare to some of the big hitters on this list. I was waiting for him to sing some of his most popular songs, but once he did, he sang one and the show was over. It was a bit of a let down for me.

6. 2020 - Shakira and Jennifer Lopez

Ah, yes, the halftime show that angered many across the country because Shakira and J-Lo shook their butts in scantily-clad outfits on national television. But what can I say? It was iconic. These two artists are a perfect pairing in my opinion, and the show made me want to get up and dance.

5. 2014 - Bruno Mars ft. Red Hot Chili Peppers

I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this one as much as I did when rewatching it, but it was so entertaining. Watching this performance 10 years after it happened was awesome because the songs that Bruno Mars sang are still so popular today. It was a halftime show that anyone could like.

4. 2017 - Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga opened with “God Bless America” and then literally flew into the stadium, so obviously her 2017 halftime show deserves a high spot on this list. This performance will be forever iconic, I mean it’s Lady Gaga after all.

3. 2022 - Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar

This might be an unpopular opinion, but I absolutely loved this halftime show. It felt like there was something for everyone to enjoy. The Super Bowl should have multiple artists like this more often because it didn’t bore me once. I also really loved the set for this halftime show, so for that, it earns the third spot.

2. 2023 - Rihanna

Something about Rihanna’s 2023 halftime show has made me think about it way more than I should. She delivered stunning vocals and dance moves, all while being pregnant with her second child. This performance was simple yet encapsulating, and as a big Rihanna fan, I’ll always love it.

1. 2015 - Katy Perry

The 2015 halftime show brought us the iconic “Left Shark” who went viral online during the show. Perry’s timeless and catchy songs paired with elaborate theatrics and costume changes made this performance as amazing as it was, landing it in the top spot of this list.

Sarah Gavlak is a second-year majoring in telecommunications. To contact her, please email sng5393@psu.edu.