Both Super Bowl 53 and the halftime show will take place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the Atlanta Falcons.
Why is Maroon 5 performing this year? They weren’t the NFL’s first choice. At least two singers reportedly rejected invitations from the NFL, most notably Rihanna and Cardi B, in a show of solidarity with former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick is involved in a high-profile collusion case against the league related to his protest of police brutality and racial injustice. The pop singer-songwriter P!nk also reportedly turned down an invite.
Maroon 5, Travis Scott and Big Boi will join a long list of artists who have been selected to headline the most-watched musical event of the year. Previous halftime performances include Justin Timberlake, Madonna, Prince and Bruno Mars among many others throughout the game’s history.
Here’s everything to know about this year’s Super Bowl 53 halftime show, including expected start time and a full list of performances throughout the game’s history.
MORE SUPER BOWL HALFTIME:Five worst performances | Five best performances
Who is performing during halftime of Super Bowl 53?
Maroon 5 is headlining the halftime show. They will be joined on stage by rappers Travis Scott and Big Boi, an Atlanta native.
Details about their set and potential guest appearances remain a mystery, although Christina Aguilera, a friend of Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine, is popular among the prop bets. Andre 3000, the other half of OutKast, could also join Big Boi if rumors prove true.
It’s also expected that Maroon 5 will incorporate SpongeBob’s “Sweet Victory” into their set list, a tribute to late show creator Stephen Hillenburg.
What time does the Super Bowl halftime show start?
Super Bowl 53 will be played Sunday, Feb. 3, and kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET. Expect the game to actually start closer to 7 p.m. after the conclusion of the national anthem and the rest of the pregame program. That means halftime should arrive around 8:30-9 p.m., depending on pace of play.
LIVE STREAM SUPER BOWL 53 AND THE HALFTIME SHOW:U.S: fuboTV | Canada: DAZN
Who is Maroon 5?
Maroon 5 is led by famous frontman Adam Levine. They have won three Grammy Awards, selling over 53 million albums and 48 million singles worldwide and earned gold and platinum certifications in more than 35 countries. Their hit songs include “She Will Be Loved,” “This Love,” “Moves Like Jagger,” “Payphone,” and their most recent single “Girls Like You.”
Who is Travis Scott?
Travis Scott is a Grammy-nominated rapper. His third album “Astroworld” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and his single from this album “Sicko Mode” has been nominated for three Grammy Awards: Best Rap Album, Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance. Scott is also the longtime boyfriend of Kylie Jenner.
MORE: Does Colin Kaepernick disapprove of Travis Scott’s halftime appearance?
Who is Big Boi?
Antwan Andre Patton, better known by his stage name Big Boi, is an Atlanta native rapper and was once a member of OutKast. Patton, as one half of OutKast, sold 25 million albums and won seven Grammy Awards. His latest single “All Night” has garnered 40 million streams within a year. The song also hit top 30 on Billboard’s pop chart.
Do performers get paid for the Super Bowl halftime show?
It’s complicated, but the short answer is no. The NFL covers all “expenses and production costs” but does not pay artists a wage, league spokesperson Joanna Hunter explained to Forbes in 2016. Those expenses can vary year to year. Beyonce’s show in 2013 cost a reported $600,000, per Forbes, but other reports have given much higher estimates for more recent shows, including $10 million for Katy Perry in 2015.
So the halftime show is basically one big, free concert to promote an upcoming album or tour, and the profits for such exposure are unquantifiable. Most artists have seen a large spike in record sales and endorsements immediately following their performances.
Who is singing the national anthem at Super Bowl 53?
Gladys Knight has been chosen to sing the national anthem at Super Bowl 53. The seven-time Grammy Award winner and Atlanta native is best known for her hits “Midnight Train to Georgia” and “That’s What Friends are For,” both Billboard Hot 100 singles. She also has 11 No. 1 R&B singles, as well as six No. 1 R&B albums. Knight is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with The Pips.
R&B sister duo Chloe x Halle will perform “America the Beautiful.” And they will also be joined by performer and deaf activist Aarron Loggins, who is signing both the national anthem and “America the Beautiful” during the pregame festivities.
MORE: History of Super Bowl national anthems, from best to worst
Where is Super Bowl 2019?
Super Bowl 53 will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Mercedes-Benz Stadium is home to the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta has hosted the Super Bowl twice before (XXVIII, XXXIV), both at the since-demolished Georgia Dome. The Rams won the last time the Super Bowl was in Atlanta in 1999.
