Lady Gaga Named Super Bowl LI Halftime Performer

Share This:

Classic rock fans will apparently be getting a much-needed bathroom break at the end of the first half of Super Bowl 51. Lady Gaga will serve as the headlining artist at this season’s Super Bowl. The artist has confirmed it via her Twitter account, confirming rumors that began on September 19 (first reported by Us Weekly).

It’s not an illusion. The rumors are true. This year the SUPER BOWL goes GAGA! @nfl @FOXTV @pepsi #PERFECTILLUSION #GAGASUPERBOWL pic.twitter.com/qR4O57451G

— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) September 30, 2016

Gaga will keep folks’ eyes and ears busy during halftime at Super Bowl LI—we’re back to Roman numerals this year—at Houston’s NRG Stadium on February 5. Gaga’s performance will come on the heels of the release of her new album, Joanne, due October 21.

After years of classic rock stars like Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, U2, Paul McCartney, and the Rolling Stones playing the NFL’s showcase, the league is once again going with a pop star. There is hope for rock fans, though: in recent years, the main pop selection has been joined by a rocker—like Lenny Kravitz with Katy Perry for 2015’s XLIX and Slash with the Black Eyed Peas in 2011. But you would have to go back to 2010 for the last halftime show headlined by a rock act, when the Who performed at Miami’s Sun Life Stadium.

Watch the Rolling Stones start things up at SB XL in Detroit in 2006…

Gaga sang the national anthem before last season’s Super Bowl, which featured Coldplay, Beyoncé and Bruno Mars as halftime entertainment. Said Gaga about the experience, “I get a chance to sing for all the athletes, who have been working so hard their whole lives for this moment, the coaches, as well as the fans in the stands who are waiting for this moment. I think it marks what being an American is all about.”

Rumors had earlier swirled stating that Adele was being offered the 2017 Super Bowl gig. The singer said that she turned it down but NFL officials later said that Adele was never offered the slot.

Watch Lady Gaga sing the national anthem at Super Bowl 2016

Lady Gaga is not the first pop singer to perform at the Super Bowl. Previous performers also include Katy Perry and Madonna.

Regarding Joanne, Gaga has explained that the upcoming album is named after an aunt who died at 19 from lupus, before Gaga herself was born as Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (her middle name a tribute to her late relative). “I never met her, but she’s been one of the most important figures in my life,” Lady Gaga has said.

Watch the video of “Perfect Illusion,” the first single from Lady Gaga’s Joanne album