Super Bowl LX is set to take place on Sunday night at Levi’s Stadium in San Francisco. It brings with it a blockbuster rematch of Super Bowl XLIX between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks.
Their last meeting on the NFL‘s biggest stage produced one of the most debated moments in Super Bowl history, when Seattle chose to throw from the one-yard line rather than hand the ball to Marshawn Lynch in the closing seconds. The pass was intercepted at the goal line, denying the Seahawks a potential second straight title and instead sealing a fourth Super Bowl triumph for Tom Brady and the Patriots.
Super Bowl LX will also see Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, take the stage. The Puerto Rican superstar, who primarily performs in Spanish, has previously been outspoken in his criticism of Donald Trump and his stance on immigration. This means there is a lot of intrigue around whether he chooses to make a political statement on one of the biggest stages in global sport.
Despite the half-time show being one of the most watched music events in the world, several major artists have turned down an invitation to perform at the Super Bowl, for various reasons. Below is a look at the biggest names to reject the opportunity – and why they chose to do so.
7
Adele
Adele is one of the best-selling artists of the 21st century, known for her powerful vocals and emotional ballads such as Someone Like You, Hello and Rolling in the Deep. The British singer has won multiple Grammy Awards and is celebrated for her stripped-back, vocal-focused performances.
She was reportedly approached to perform at the 2017 Super Bowl halftime show but declined the offer, explaining that the spectacle is “not about music”. Adele said that the format, which places heavy emphasis on choreography and visual production, does not suit her performance style.
“First of all, I’m not doing the Super Bowl,” Adele said. “I mean, come on, that show is not about music. And I don’t really — I can’t dance or anything like that. They were very kind, they did ask me, but I said no.”
6
Pink
Pink rose to fame in the early 2000s with hits like Get the Party Started and Just Like a Pill, later becoming known for her acrobatic live performances and strong, independent image. With multiple Grammys and global tours, she is one of pop’s most respected live performers.
The American artist was approached to perform the 2019 Super Bowl Halftime show, but declined the invitation. She has spoken openly about the pressure and backlash that often follows halftime shows, which influenced her decision to step away from headlining the event.
5
Jay-Z
Jay-Z is one of the most influential figures in hip-hop history, with a career spanning music, business, and sports entertainment. With albums like The Blueprint and Reasonable Doubt, he helped shape modern rap.
Known for his independence and control over his work, Jay-Z reportedly declined the Super Bowl offer because he did not want conditions placed on his performance, choosing artistic freedom over one of the world’s biggest stages.
“That is not how you go about it, telling someone that they’re going to do the halftime show contingent on who they bring. I said forget it. It was a principle thing,” he said.
4
Taylor Swift
Taylor began her career as a country artist before becoming a global pop superstar with albums like 1989, Reputation and Midnights. She is known for her songwriting, fan engagement, and record-breaking tours. During the period she was most-heavily linked with a Super Bowl appearance, Swift was focused on re-recording her early albums to regain ownership of her music, prioritising long-term creative control over a one-off halftime performance.
She is heavily associated with the NFL these days, due to her engagement to Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs, but has not indicated that she would be willing to change her stance.
3
Outkast
Outkast, made up of André 3000 and Big Boi, are one of hip-hop’s most innovative duos, known for albums like Stankonia and Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. Their music blends rap, funk, and soul, often with unconventional song structures. André 3000 is known for being highly selective about performances, and reports suggest he declined the Super Bowl opportunity because the format required heavily edited versions of their songs.
2
Cardi B
Cardi B rose from social media fame to global stardom with hits like Bodak Yellow and I Like It. Known for her outspoken personality, she has frequently commented on political and social issues.
She chose not to perform at the Super Bowl as a public show of support for Colin Kaepernick, who was essentially blackballed from the NFL for his political beliefs, making her decision more of a statement than a career-based call.
“I got to sacrifice a lot of money to perform,” the singer said. “But there’s a man who sacrificed his job for us, so we got to stand behind him.”
1
Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton is a country music legend with a career spanning over five decades, producing classics like Jolene and I Will Always Love You. Beyond music, she is known for her philanthropy and cultural influence. Despite her immense popularity, Parton has said the scale and spectacle of the Super Bowl halftime show did not suit her style, leading her to politely decline multiple offers.
“I’ve been offered that many times,” Parton said. “I couldn’t do it because of other things, or I just didn’t think I was big enough to do it, to do that big of a production. When you think about those shows, those are big, big productions. I’ve never done anything with that big of a production. I don’t know if I could have.”
