The NFL Super Bowl halftime show is one of the biggest entertainment moments of the year, right in the middle of one of the essential sporting dates in the calendar. The greatest musicians and performers in musical history have performed there, creating some truly memorable moments along the way.

The half time show as we now know it really started to emerge in 1991, with the appearance of New Kids On The Block. The following year, Gloria Estefan performed a couple of her hits. But the real start of it all was Michael Jackson in 1993, and his mind-blowing entrance at the Pasadena Rose Bowl, before a mini-set of some of his biggest hits. This show had a considerable impact on the ratings, and from then on, huge effort was made to secure a superstar to perform in the halftime show.

Since then, everyone from the Rolling Stones to Paul McCartney to Beyonce to Bruce Springsteen has performed, cramming as many hits as possible into their tiny time-slot.

It has led to some iconic moments, although not always with the outcomes they hoped for – the scandal around Janet Jackson’s supposed “wardrobe malfunction” rumbled on for months, and had a serious impact on her career. Which seems a bit unfair, when it was Justin Timberlake that yanked her top off…

Arguably the greatest of all the halftime shows came from The Purple One, Prince. A simply sensational performance, embracing the torrential downpour perfectly, with the stunning climax of Purple Rain topping off the sort of show that made him the legendary figure he is. The story behind that show is worth listening to as well.

Occasionally you get a real curveball, such as when Lady Gaga was picked for the halftime show. But, you know what? She smashed it – maybe not an obvious fit for a Super Bowl, but what a bonkers, brilliant show she put on!

The Super Bowl halftime show is now a genuine institution, and in Miami 2020 they have Jennifer Lopez and Shakira sharing the stage – given how many hits they have to choose from, it should be a big one!