Sophie Turner, Taylor Swift & Ryan Reynolds
Sophie Turner, Taylor Swift and Ryan Reynolds talk prior to the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Oct. 1, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J.
Music and sports are some of the world’s biggest industries. The two have long had a symbiotic relationship, especially in the United States, where everything is bigger and, well, louder – and doubly so where American football is concerned.
What would Sunday Night Football be, for instance, without its famous theme song? What would players do without their hype tracks, or halftime shows without live music? Music is an essential part of football season. Plus, some of the biggest artists in the world often perform in the exact stadiums where teams kick off.
But the mutual love between football and music goes beyond the macro scale. Musicians, at the end of the day, are just like anyone else. Many of them are just as much a hardcore NFL fan as the next American, with a passion for their home team that runs almost as deep as their love for their craft.
That’s why it’s nothing out of the ordinary to see famous musicians turn up at pro and college football games. The Super Bowl is an unofficial yearly gathering of some of the world’s biggest celebrities, including singers, songwriters and rappers – and not just the ones performing the national anthem or at the annual Super Bowl Halftime Show concert. And the spotlight is always just as much on Taylor Swift watching games from her seat in Arrowhead Stadium as it is on Travis Kelce playing on the field whenever the pop star attends a Kansas City Chiefs game, she and the tight end having struck up an all-American romance in 2023.
Everyone from Justin Bieber to Jay-Z, Miley Cyrus to Jon Bon Jovi has cropped up on the sidelines to enjoy some good old-fashioned football over the years. Keep scrolling to see photos of various musicians on the sidelines below.
Sophie Turner, Taylor Swift and Ryan Reynolds talk prior to the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Oct. 1, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J.
Justin Bieber, Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner attend Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium on Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif.
Jay-Z and Blue Ivy Carter attend Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium on Feb. 12, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz.
Ariana Grande sings the national anthem prior to the game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers at CenturyLink Field on Sept. 4, 2014, in Seattle.
Lil Durk poses with Deebo Samuel #19 of the San Francisco 49ers following an NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Giants at Levi’s Stadium on Sept. 21, 2023, in Santa Clara, Calif.
Kanye West and North West attend Super Bowl LVI between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium on Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif.
Wassim Slaiby and The Weeknd attend Super Bowl LVI Pregame at SoFi Stadium on Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif.
Doja Cat attends Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium on Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif.
Justin Timberlake smacks the behind of Aaron Rodgers #8 of the New York Jets prior to a game against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 11, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J.
Drake at Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium on Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif.
Jack Harlow talks to Taylor Lautner and the actor’s wife, Taylor Dome, before the Detroit Lions game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Ford Field on Oct. 30, 2023, in Detroit.
Ciara — who is married to NFL star Russell Wilson — at the start of the NFL Pro Bowl football game on Jan. 31, 2016, in Honolulu.
T.I. poses with cheerleaders before the game between the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots in the AFC Championship football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Jan. 24, 2016, in Denver.
Lil Jon performs during halftime in a AFC Wild Card playoff football game between the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs at NRG Stadium on Jan. 9, 2016, in Houston, Texas.
Demi Lovato at the New York Jets vs. Washington Redskins game at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Oct. 18, 2015.
Arizona Cardinals fan Blake Shelton with Gwen Stefani on the sidelines before a game against the Green Bay Packers on Dec. 27, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz.
Jessie James Decker, wife of now retired New York Jets wide receiver Eric Decker, sings the national anthem before an NFL football game between the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 12, 2015, in East Rutherford, N.J.
Slash performs the national anthem with the USC Trojans Marching Band during a 40-21 victory over the Pac-12 crosstown rival UCLA Bruins at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Nov. 28, 2015.
Brad Paisley conducts an interview after performing “Country Roads” prior to kickoff at Milan Puskar Stadium on Sept. 26, 2015, in Morgantown, W.V.
Melissa Etheridge sings the national anthem before a game between the New York Giants and the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium on Dec. 14, 2015, in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Ciara performs the national anthem before the start of the College Football Playoff National Championship game between the Clemson Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., on Jan. 11, 2016.
Miley Cyrus in attendance during NCAA Football game between the California Golden Bears and the USC Trojans at the Coliseum in Los Angeles on Nov. 13, 2014.
Jon Bon Jovi and Jesse Terry attend the NY Jets vs. New England Patriots game at MetLife Stadium on Dec. 21, 2014. in East Rutherford, N.J.
Macklemore watches from the sideline before the 2013 NFC divisional playoff football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New Orleans Saints at CenturyLink Field on Jan. 11, 2014.
LL Cool J talks to the defensive backs before a week 12 football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Nov. 23, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J.
Katy Perry joins host Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit during telecast of ESPN’s College GameDay in The Grove at the University of Mississippi prior to their NCAA college football game in Oxford, Miss., Oct. 4, 2014.
Queen Latifah talks with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell before the Seattle Seahawks took on the Denver Broncos during Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium on Feb. 2, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers watch Super Bowl XLVIII between the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks from the sidelines at MetLife Stadium on Feb. 2, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J.
Dr. Dre on the sidelines before the NFL football NFC Championship game between the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers on Jan. 19, 2014, in Seattle.
Macklemore celebrates after the Seattle Seahawks 23-17 victory against the San Francisco 49ers during the 2014 NFC Championship at CenturyLink Field on Jan. 19, 2014, in Seattle.
Selena Gomez is greeted by Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones before the Cowboys’ NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Nov. 3, 2013, in Arlington, Texas.
Usher greets fans before the NFC championship game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Jan. 20, 2013, in Atlanta.
Joe Jonas poses for a photograph with the Miami Dolphins cheerleaders during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Sun Life Stadium on Oct. 31, 2013, in Miami Gardens, Fla.
MC Hammer and members of the Oakland Fight Club before an NFL football game between the Oakland Raiders and the Pittsburgh Steelers in Oakland, Calif., on Oct. 27, 2013.
Snoop Dogg wears a #24 Seattle Seahawks jersey as he stands on the field prior to an NFL preseason football game between the Seahawks and the Oakland Raiders on Aug. 29, 2013, in Seattle.
Katharine McPhee attends the Pepsi Super Bowl XLVII Pregame Show at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Feb. 3, 2013, in New Orleans, La.
Erin Andrews, Usher and Michael Strahan stand on the field prior to the Atlanta Falcons hosting the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game at the Georgia Dome on Jan. 20, 2013, in Atlanta.
Prince Amukamara celebrates with Katy Perry after the Giants’ 21-17 win in the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game against the New England Patriots on Feb. 5, 2012, in Indianapolis, Ind.
Donnie Wahlberg watches the teams warm up on the field before the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots on Feb. 5, 2012, in Indianapolis, Ind.
Flavor Flav celebrates the New York Giants’ victory against the New England Patriots at Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., on Feb 5, 2012.
Steven Tyler attends the AFC Championship Game between the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 22, 2012, in Foxboro, Mass.
Jon Bon Jovi stands on the sidelines as he watches warmups between the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots during their AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 14, 2012, in Foxboro, Mass.
Ice-T and Coco attend the New England Patriots Vs New York Jets game at the MetLife Stadium on Nov. 13, 2011, in East Rutherford, N.J.
Dwyane Wade, Pitbull, Marc Anthony and Will Smith attend the Miami Dolphins vs. New England Patriots Monday Night Football game on Sept. 12, 2011, in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Jay-Z looks at the NFL season opening game between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 11, 2011, in East Rutherford, N.J.
Wiz Khalifa and Bill Gardell wave terrible towels and fire up the fans prior to the Pittsburgh Steelers NFL 2011 AFC Championship playoff football game against the New York Jets on Jan. 23, 2011, in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Marc Anthony, Fergie, Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian at the NY Jets vs. the Miami Dolphins game at Sunlife stadium on Sept. 26, 2010, in Miami, Fla.
Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez watch an NCAA college football game between Notre Dame and Purdue in South Bend, Ind., on Sept. 4, 2010.
Gloria Estefan, Pat Ferguson, Emilio Estefan and Fergie pose on the field before the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Miami Dolphins at Land Shark Stadium on Jan. 3, 2010, in Miami, Fla.
Tim McGraw and Faith Hill attend Super Bowl XLIII between the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Feb. 1, 2009, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
DeMarcus Ware #94 of the Dallas Cowboys says hello to Jay-Z before their game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Sept. 21, 2008, in Green Bay, Wis.
John Legend and Chrissy Teigen watch the New York Jets play the New York Giants Saturday night, Aug. 23, 2008, at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
Jordin Sparks and her father, former NFL player Phillippi Sparks, arrive on Fox’s Super Bowl XLII red carpet on Feb. 3, 2008, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo watch from the sidelines during USC football game against Notre Dame at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Nov. 25, 2006.
Ice Cube poses with family in an Oakland Raiders No. 18 Randy Moss jersey before game against the Dallas Cowboys at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Oct. 2, 2005.
Will Smith on the field before the start of Super Bowl XXXIX between the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles at Alltel Stadium on Feb. 6, 2005, in Jacksonville, Fla.
Kid Rock and Sean “P. Diddy” Combs during Super Bowl XXXVIII – Backstage at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas.