Bad Bunny put on an amazing show at this year’s Super Bowl. This is a look at who could be the performer at next year’s Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Taylor Swift
There is a chance that next year could finally be the year that Taylor Swift performs at the Super Bowl. Fans have been asking for it for years, especially as Taylor Swift has gotten more involved in the NFL through Travis Kelce. There has been speculation that Taylor Swift’s partnership with Coca-Cola was keeping her performing the halftime show, as it was sponsored by Pepsi for so many years. However, Apple Music is now the presenting sponsor. Between that change and Swift’s growing relationship with the NFL, it could be the perfect year for her to finally be the halftime performer.
Billy Joel
While there have been plenty of young stars that have performed recently, it could be time for a legacy act to hit the halftime stage. Billy Joel is dealing with some health issues, but has taken the stage since those problems began. Legendary performers like Billy Joel need to be appreciated while they are still here. He has somehow never been the halftime show performer before, and he is running out of chances, so next year could be the perfect chance.
Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande has been one of the biggest superstars in music over the past decade. She has developed a big enough catalog to put on a show like this, and due to her starring role in Wicked, she has reached an even bigger worldwide audience with her talent. If Grande follows up her Wicked success with a Super Bowl Halftime Show, she would cement herself as one of the biggest stars in the world.
Elton John
Similar to Billy Joel, it’s shocking that Elton John has never been the Super Bowl halftime performer. There is a history of legendary British performers getting a chance to play the halftime show later in life, such as Paul McCartney and The Rolling Stones. Elton John is one of the greatest showmen in the history of music and has one of the biggest collections of hits of any living artist. It would be fantastic to see Elton John playing the piano in the middle of SoFi Stadium.
The Killers, The Foo Fighters, Kings of Leon
At Super Bowl LVI, the NFL finally gave hip-hop a chance by putting together a group of rap legends, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, and Eminem. It could be time for a similar chance for rock and roll. Classic rock groups such as The Who, The Rolling Stones and Tom Petty got a chance to perform during the halftime show, but no 21st-century rock bands have been given a real opportunity. A collection of legendary bands like The Killers, The Foo Fighters, Kings of Leon and others could be the perfect way to finally acknowledge modern rock.
Blink-182, My Chemical Romance, Green Day
Similar to 21st-century rock bands being excluded from the big stage, pop punk bands have never been given a chance at the Super Bowl. Blink-182, Green Day and My Chemical Romance are among some of the biggest and most influential bands of the 21st century. They should be given a chance to perform on one of music’s biggest stages. Green Day played the Opening Ceremony at this year’s Super Bowl, but that comes with nowhere near the same acclaim. This would be a special opportunity to shed light on a different genre of music.
Drake
Just like Taylor Swift, Drake is one of the biggest musical artists of the 21st century, but has not performed at the Super Bowl Halftime Show. He has had close collaborators headline the halftime show, such as Rihanna and The Weeknd, in addition to his rival, Kendrick Lamar. Drake was the most-streamed artist of the 2010s on Spotify. He has a massive catalog of hits, and it would be surprising if he went through his career without performing at the Super Bowl.
Ed Sheeran
Drake was the most-streamed artist of the 2010s, but No. 2 on that list is Ed Sheeran. Sheeran has various hits from slow ballads to catchy pop songs and even hip-hop-inspired tracks. His variety of music would make for a great flow of a halftime show to bring different vibes to unique audiences. Sheeran is another massive star who deserves a chance to perform on this huge stage.
