The Top 5 Super Bowl Halftime Shows

Each year, millions of people from around the world tune in to watch two giants battle it out to take home one of the most prestigious trophies in the sport, while also getting to see an incredible performance from a global superstar during the break. 

This has been a massive trend since the first Super Bowl back in 1967, but it has never been as big as it has in recent years. With more and more people getting involved in football, whether an enthusiastic friend draws your attention, or interest is sparked through nj online casino sign up bonus offers, the numbers of viewers are only set to increase. So today, we will be taking a look at the top five Super Bowl halftime shows based on the number of live viewership.

Kendrick Lamar

The Kendrick Lamar performance in the 2025 Super Bowl LIX broke the internet and made headlines around the world for trumping Michael Jackson’s long standing record of having the most live viewers of his halftime show performance. Kendrick Lamar is one of the biggest names in music since the beginning of the 2000s and has cemented his name as potentially one of the best rappers the industry has seen. Lamar has been dominant in the industry in recent years, which led him to land this performance. He accumulated over 133 million live viewers, performing some of his hit songs, including Not Like Us, Squabble Up, DNA, Euphoria, even bringing out SZA to perform and tennis legend Serena Williams to get involved during the performance of Not Like Us. This will surely go down as one of the performances of the year.

Michael Jackson

Before Kendrick Lamar broke the record for the most viewers of a Super Bowl halftime show, Michael Jackson was the holder, with less than 100,000 viewers difference. In 1993, Jackson performed in Super Bowl XXVII, a heavily anticipated performance during the halftime of the Dallas Cowboys vs the Buffalo Bills. Jackson is one of the biggest celebrities and artists of all time, inspiring a whole generation and becoming an influence on even global affairs. During his performance in 1993, Jackson performed some of his classics, such as Black or White, Billie Jean, Heal the World, and many others, even bringing out a children’s choir using his platform to not only inspire but send a message to the world. It is possible that this performance may be remembered as one of the most iconic of all time, not just in Super Bowl history, but on a global stage considering any event.

Usher

In 2024’s Super Bowl LVIII, Usher provided the halftime entertainment, with a performance to remember. Usher’s performance was a nod to his career and all of his achievements, from his start in music in the 90s, to his current success in his career, and even his future endeavors that he plans to embark upon. During his set, Usher performed some of his top songs that are iconic in the industry, including My Way, Love in This Club, and Yeah!. Not only this, but Usher brought even more energy through the other acts he invited onto the stage, including Alicia Keys, Will.i.am, Jermaine Dupri, H.E.R, Lil Jon, and Ludacris. The display brought incredible energy that matched the intense game of football between the 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs, ending in overtime.

Rihanna

Another one of the biggest global stars in modern music, Rihanna, has built a fanbase around the world since she began her music journey in the early 2000s. In 2023, Rihanna was invited to perform for Super Bowl LVII, where she accumulated over 120 million live viewers during her stage time. This performance was groundbreaking and became one of the most iconic due to its unique nature. Unlike other artists, Rihanna performed the entire show by herself with no guests, performing some of her hit songs, such as We Found Love, Rude Boy, and Umbrella. But what really sent the internet into a frenzy was during the performance, when Rihanna announced her second pregnancy, leaving fans speechless. The display was so big on the internet that it almost overshadowed the victory of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Katy Perry

Breaking away from more recent Super Bowl performances, Katy Perry took to the stage in 2015 for Super Bowl XLIX, accumulating over 118 million live viewers. Perry’s performance was spectacular, with a massive focus on the visual experience, bringing energy to the show. She performed some of her hit songs, including California Gurls, I Kissed a Girl, and Teenage Dream, while being joined on stage by Lenny Kravitz and Missy Elliot. Despite Katy Perry’s incredible performance, the show might just be remembered for the infamous left shark backup dancer who became an internet sensation after its off-sync dancing and uncoordinated moves.