Artists who have declined the Super Bowl halftime show and their reasons

Bad Bunny headlines Super Bowl LX halftime show

Bad Bunny headlined the Super Bowl LX halftime show on Feb. 8, 2026, after multiple Grammy wins, including Album of the Year for Debí Tirar Más Fotos.

The National Football League organizes the halftime show with production partners and has selected global pop and hip hop acts in recent years, including Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, Usher, Dr. Dre with guests, and The Weeknd, based on league promotions.

NFL Super Bowl halftime show history

In recent years, the halftime show has drawn audiences well above 100 million across U.S. broadcast and streaming measurements.

The NFL’s track record with halftime performers has drawn mixed reviews, with Maroon 5 in 2019 and the Black Eyed Peas in 2011 criticized in media coverage, prompting the league to pursue higher-profile headliners later.

Adele said she declined a Super Bowl offer in 2016

Adele said during an August 2016 concert that she had been asked to perform the Super Bowl 2017 halftime show and had declined, following British tabloid The Sun’s reports claiming she was set to perform.

The NFL and Pepsi disputed that a formal offer was made, telling Billboard in 2016 that they had conversations with artists about the Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show but had not extended an official offer.

Pink declined Super Bowl 2019 over backlash concerns

Pink told Billboard in 2019 that she declined the Super Bowl 2019 halftime show after being asked by the NFL, citing concern about the intense public backlash faced by performers on the stage.

Pink also cited support for Colin Kaepernick, who began kneeling during the national anthem in 2016 to protest racial injustice, and in 2018, the NFL approved a national anthem policy requiring personnel on the field to stand, with the option to remain in the locker room.

NFL apologized to Black players in 2020

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell apologized in 2020 to Black players for not listening earlier to peaceful protests against racial injustice that followed Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling during the national anthem in 2016.

The apology came after years of criticism and the NFL’s 2018 ban on on-field kneeling, with Goodell stating the league believes Black Lives Matter and supports peaceful protest.

Jay Z rejected a conditional halftime show offer

Jay Z told The New York Times in 2020 that he declined a Super Bowl halftime offer that would have required bringing out Kanye West and Rihanna to perform “Run This Town” during the show.

Since 2020, Jay Z and Roc Nation have produced the halftime show following Jennifer Lopez and Shakira, while Beyoncé has appeared twice as a Super Bowl performer.

Taylor Swift declined 2023 to focus on re recordings

Taylor Swift was reportedly offered the Super Bowl 2023 halftime show, according to Variety, and TMZ reported she declined to focus on re-recording her first six albums and preparing for the Eras Tour.

In October 2025, Swift said no formal offer was made, adding that Jay Z and Roc Nation floated the idea, and she attended the Super Bowl as a spectator in 2024 and 2025.

Outkast declined due to song length limits

Big Boi said on ESPN in 2015 that André 3000 declined a Super Bowl halftime offer because he did not want to shorten songs such as Hey Ya and The Way You Move.

The timing suggests the offer came before the 2004 Super Bowl. After Speakerboxxx The Love Below was released in 2003, Big Boi appeared as a guest during the Super Bowl LIII halftime show in 2019 alongside Maroon 5 and Travis Scott.

Cardi B declined Super Bowl 2019 in support of Kaepernick

Cardi B told the Associated Press that she declined the Super Bowl 2019 halftime show to support Colin Kaepernick, who lost his job after kneeling during the national anthem.

She addressed criticism for performing at Super Bowl parties, saying artists can benefit from related events, and Rihanna shared similar concerns in 2019 before headlining the show in 2023.

Dolly Parton declined due to production scale concerns

Dolly Parton told The Hollywood Reporter in November 2023 that she declined the Super Bowl halftime show several times due to scheduling conflicts and concerns about managing a production of that size.

She said the halftime show requires large-scale staging and coordination, and that she had never done a performance of that scope, raising doubts about her ability to handle such a major televised event.

Backstreet Boys declined halftime in 2001

Nick Carter told Entertainment Tonight in 2021 that the Backstreet Boys declined the Super Bowl 2001 halftime show and chose instead to perform the national anthem during the championship game.

Carter said the group admired Whitney Houston’s anthem performance and would consider halftime in the future, reflecting on their popularity during the late 1990s era.

Recent NFL halftime picks improved critical response

Recent halftime shows by Rihanna in 2023, Kendrick Lamar, Usher, Dr. Dre with guests, and The Weeknd received stronger media and fan response than earlier criticized performances.

The NFL shifted toward globally recognized headliners after criticism of Maroon 5 in 2019 and the Black Eyed Peas in 2011, according to widespread media coverage.

Curious how Taylor Swift’s Super Bowl moment sparked debate around NFL loyalty? Take a quick look at the full story.

Super Bowl halftime show reaches massive audiences

The Super Bowl halftime show reaches more than 100 million viewers in the United States each year, creating intense public scrutiny for performers, according to NFL audience reports.

The decisions of Pink and Cardi B were influenced by backlash and the social protest context following Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling during the national anthem beginning in 2016.

Want to hear what Cardi B said after the Patriots won the Super Bowl? Catch her reaction in this related piece.

Share which halftime performer you think handled that pressure best and join the conversation in the comments.

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.

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