Opinion: Many stars available for future Super Bowl halftime shows

Photo via Wikipedia

Super bowl LVII will take place on February 13, 2023.

Eli Traud, Staff Writer

Performing at the Super Bowl halftime show is one of the most prestigious opportunities a musical artist can receive. Traditionally, artists chosen to perform have an iconic discography, countless hits, and cultural impact. 

This year’s performer is Rihanna, who has amassed 14 number one songs during her career. 

The halftime show has caused controversy throughout the years, though, whether from the artist selected to appear or from a moment in the show.

When Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar performed at the halftime show in 2022, for example, viewers who do not like hip-hop voiced their displeasure with the decision.   

There has also been a large amount of drama caused by the actual performances themselves. 

In 2004, while Janet Jackson was performing alongside Justin Timberlake, a “wardrobe malfunction” occurred. This incident caused a lot of discussion coming out of the performance, and many fans blame the event for harming Jackson’s career. 

Although the announcement of the next Super Bowl halftime performer can be controversial, this event is still highly anticipated by music fans and there are still numerous artists who deserve the chance to perform.

Over the years, Taylor Swift has become one of the biggest artists in history and has amassed an impressive catalog of hit songs. Due to her musical success and her mainstream appeal, it seems obvious that Swift should appear at the halftime show in the near future. 

Drake has established himself as one of the most successful rappers of all time and as one of the music industry’s biggest hitmakers. The Super Bowl looks for artists with a handful of instantly recognizable songs, and Drake has more than enough of these songs. 

Similarly to Drake, Ariana Grande has proven that she is capable of releasing successful songs. Although she has not been present in the music scene for a couple of years, her past work has allowed her to maintain her popularity, which proves she would have no difficulty creating a halftime show setlist. 

Elton John has had a storybook career and has cemented himself as one of the most legendary artists of all time. However, he has never performed at the Super Bowl halftime show. He may be past his prime, but Elton John is still present in the music industry and is fully capable of putting on an entertaining show. 

Although many of music’s biggest stars have already performed at the Super Bowl halftime show, there is still a star-studded selection of artists who have yet to have this opportunity.