The Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals will face off this Sunday for Super Bowl LVI, with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and Mary J. Blige performing during halftime.
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As we gear up for the big show, there’s one Super Bowl performance we’ll never forget. February 5 marked the 10 year anniversary of Madonna’s iconic set at Super Bowl XLVI, during which she sang some of her biggest hits, including “Music,” “Vogue,” “Express Yourself,”‘ and “Like A Prayer,” among others.
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It was the first Super Bowl halftime show to be headlined by a sole female performer since Diana Ross in 1996. Madonna’s set was watched by over 114 million people, higher than the viewership of the game itself, and featured guest performances by Nicki Minaj, M.I.A, CeeLo Green, and LMFAO.
Queerty archeologists unearthed some rare rehearsal footage of Madonna preparing for the big event in 2012. Check it out…
And now, re-live the amazing performance…
Long live the queen.
slimjim
Not my favorite Superbowl performance. I thought it was really lacking and unfortunate that it was timed with one her worst singles she ever released. The entrance was pretty great but it was all downhill from there. Course MIA really made a mess of it by giving the middle finger.
Bonuscheque
I love this performance. Her half time show got watched more than the actual game – fun fact!
bsg1967
My goddess since 84 but Ga Ga’s show was amazing and I’m only a casual fan of hers. Madge had too much lip sync and song selection was terrible considering her catalogue. Just disappointing
lykeitiz
The song selection was terrible considering her catalogue?? Um…..what?
Yeah, she included those duds “Music,” “Vogue,” “Express Yourself,”‘ and “Like A Prayer”
LOL – Have a seat……
rangerwilcox
so she rehearses, something expected of all performers.
cc423
Meh-donna
BLAKENOW
The Queen ? NO She has been dethroned years ago. Sadly she is now just pathetic. and I used to own everything she ever put out now her stuff is unlistenable…Divas with real voices stand the test of time, they also know when to bow out and let someone new take over. Madonna tore up that memo.
Gabby
In the last decade, this “pathetic has been” has set touring records that no other solo artist can beat. Artists half her age with billions of streams can’t fill arenas or stadiums, so they don’t tour or have to cancel the tour they started. Also, in the last 10 years, she has had 3 #1 albums – that debuted at #1 all over the world. If you browse through todays album charts, you will notice that she is the only artist to have 5-6 of her albums always charting. I think your distaste for a self made successful female says more about your self limiting beliefs than it does about a memo you think Madonna should read.
louie
@Gabby – WAS the queen. Sorry your panties are in a twist because you can’t accept the truth. And yeah, that last tour was a disaster. Get over it.
Gabby
@louie Did you see the show live? Even with and injury it earned her her best reviews. I find it so odd when people leave negative comments online. I am sorry you are not happy.
Jim
Nice of Queerty trying to make this has-been relevant.
Gabby
Relevant enough for you to click on the post and leave a comment. You see how that works?
craigbrew2
She is a has been and is no longer relevant.
Heywood Jablowme
The Editors who wrote this have decided they like Madonna… THIS week. Tune in next week when they decide she was in some imaginary catfight!
lykeitiz
Easily one of the greatest half-time shows of all time. Right up there with Prince.
Duetting with CeeLo on “Like A Prayer” was a smart choice.
Haters pick apart small moments of lip synching while she’s doing gymnastics on stage. In terms of stage production and choreography, it was stunning.
Insta_DudeKembro
Best halftime show ever. Sad my generation has boring emo teenybop singers, not greats like Queen Madge, Whitney, Mariah, Michael, Prince etc. What has happened to music? Legacy artists dominate streaming, I certainly understand why.
louie
The way she’s injected her body with so much silicone and plastic, she’s more suited for being a balloon float in the Macy’s parade.
MynameisSid
I love her but you just made me laugh out loud!
Berkshires Jim
I had forgotten just how good this was! It’s sad to see guys here trashing her…she was years ahead of anyone else. You cannot look at this and not admire the incredible amount of work that went into it…the seamless performance shows that. Compare it to many of the past halftimes and they all pale in comparison….except Gaga. That one also stands out. Let’s give the old girl a break and acknowledge this performance.