When Usher plays the Super Bowl halftime show in 2024, it will mark his first time headlining, but it won’t be his first time on the halftime stage.
Back in 2011, Usher crashed the Black Eyed Peas halftime show to perform his Billboard Hot 100-topping song “OMG” alongside will.i.am, who produced the 2010 hit. For his 2011 appearance, the R&B superstar descended from the rafters of Cowboys Stadium in an all-white outfit and sunglasses to put on a master class in robotic choreography. He even wrapped up the song by jumping over will.i.am, down a flight of stairs, and landing in the splits. (If this one-song moment is any indication, we’re in for a show.)
The 2022 Super Bowl halftime show also featured a repeat performer: Mary J. Blige — who teamed up with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar at the then-brand-new SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., for the first full-fledged hip-hop halftime show — took the stage with a different crew back in 2001. More than 20 years prior, Blige had joined Aerosmith, *NSYNC, Britney Spears and Nelly, with whom she performed a grand-finale performance of “Walk This Way.”
Usher and Blige are hardly the first performers to return to the halftime stage. In fact, two have even played the big game three times at this point.
Below, find all the artists who have performed at the halftime show more than once. (Note: We’re considering halftime shows in the modern era, since New Kids on the Block first took the show in a pop direction in 1991. Sorry to the Grambling State University Marching Band and Up With People.)
Gloria Estefan: 1992, 1995 & 1999
The Latin music superstar has the distinction of being the first artist to hit the Super Bowl stage three times (one more performer has since joined her elite club; see his entry below). In 1992, she performed in a Winter Olympics salute with figure skaters Dorothy Hamill and Brian Boitano; in 1995, she hit the stage with Miami Sound Machine as part of Disney’s Indiana Jones-themed halftime; and in 1999, she represented for “salsa” in a “Celebration of Soul, Salsa & Swing” alongside Stevie Wonder, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Savion Glover.
Stevie Wonder: 1994 & 1999
Before taking the stage with Estefan, Wonder joined Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt and Wynonna Judd onstage for the 1994 halftime show’s finale. Ashley Judd, Lisa Hartman Black, The Georgia Satellites, Joe Namath, Elijah Wood and Charlie Daniels also hit the stage to perform a group rendition of The Judds’ “Love Can Build a Bridge.”
Justin Timberlake: 2001, 2004 & 2018
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/GI
Timberlake has an infamous history with the Super Bowl, ever since he took his “Rock Your Body” lyric “bet I’ll have you naked by the end of this song” too literally during Janet Jackson‘s halftime show back in 2004. But that wasn’t his only visit to the Big Game. He’s now been on the stage three times, just like Estefan: when his *NSYNC bandmates headlined along with Aerosmith in 2001, the notorious Janet show, and when he rocked his very own headlining set in 2018.
Nelly: 2001 & 2004
Save for his one solo run at “Hot in Herre” in 2004, Nelly mostly served as part of the ensemble in these two star-studded years. In addition to Janet and Justin, P. Diddy and Kid Rock also hit the stage in ’04.
Bruno Mars: 2014 & 2016
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
After Mars headlined the Super Bowl XLVIII halftime show, he crashed Coldplay‘s set two years later, delivering his high-energy smash hit “Uptown Funk” before Beyoncé and Chris Martin joined him to end the performance together.
Beyonce: 2013 & 2016
Like Mars, Beyoncé appeared during Coldplay’s 2016 show to perform her just-released anthem “Formation.” In 2013, she cranked out the hits and reunited Destiny’s Child for her own Super Bowl XLVII halftime show performance.
Mary J. Blige: 2001 & 2022
Image Credit: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via GI
Mary J. Blige’s 2022 Super Bowl halftime show with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar was her second stint on the big stage. Blige was also part of the aforementioned Aerosmith and *NSYNC crew, coming out for the grand finale in 2001 to hit some of the wailing high notes on “Walk This Way.”
Usher: 2011 & 2024
Usher crashed the Black Eyed Peas’ headlining set in 2011 to perform his will.i.am produced Hot 100 No. 1 hit “OMG,” and he’ll return in February 2024 for his very own set.
