With Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl halftime show right on our doorstep, we thought it'd be a good time to take a look back into the long history of Super Bowl halftime shows and the marching bands that took the field to entertain crowds across the country and eventually millions of fans around the world.

We already know that Southern University's "Human Jukebox" will be making the short trip to Caesars Superdome to perform in the pre-game ceremony for the Super Bowl in 2025—maybe they'll make a surprise appearance during halftime as well?

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The Super Bowl isn't only the biggest stage for sports in the world, it's also the ultimate performance venue for top music artists like Usher, Prince, and many more who are often flanked by some of the most entertaining marching bands in the United States to put on a show for millions of viewers worldwide.

Since you're reading an article about marching bands on a marching band website, I'm sure you wouldn't be surprised or offended if I said that half the reason band kids even watch the Super Bowl is for the halftime performances—the other half is for the commercials.

Football's great and all but as Big Rob iconically remarked before Devon Miles took the field for his first game on the Atlanta A&T drumline, "halftime is game time."

"Halftime is game time." - Big Rob, Drumline (2002)

Keep reading to find out about some of the most iconic performances from marching bands participating at the Super Bowl and other major sporting events throughout the years.

Marching Bands At The Super Bowl: A Look At The Most Iconic Halftime Shows

Marching bands have been a part of the Super Bowl halftime show since it was first established back in 1967. The University of Arizona and Grambling State University marching bands performed at the Los Angeles Coliseum playing selections from "The Sound of Music" with trumpet player Al Hirt as the headlining artist. 

Grambling State returned to two more times over the next decade, cementing their place as one of America's most famous marching bands. They returned again in 1998 to perform alongside Boyz II Men, Martha Reeves and Smokey Robinson, just four years before they'd perform in the movie Drumline.

In 1967, the performers were transported to the event on school buses and had no idea it would grow into what it has become today nor did they care at the time who was on the field.

That's a pretty far cry from the now big-budget performances like Usher's at the Super Bowl in 2024 which included Jackson State University's "Sonic Boom of the South."

Even if it's not at the Super Bowl, marching bands, especially those from historically black colleges and universities are a critical piece of the atmosphere of the American football.

Beyoncé is just one major artist that has recently utilized the power and skills of HBCU marching bands, vaulting them into the spotlight numerous times.

Most recently, she performed with Texas Southern's "Ocean of Soul" on Christmas Day when she announced her "Cowboy Carter" tour in Houston.

When Beyoncé performed as the headlining artist at Coachella in 2018, she included marching band members from various HBCUs, covered thoroughly in the documentary film "Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé."

In 2024, Usher was joined by the Jackson State University's "Sonic Boom of the South" at the Super Bowl—here's hoping we'll add another this year in New Orleans.

Here's Every Time A Marching Band Performed In The Super Bowl

• 1967: University of Arizona and Grambling State University with Al Hirt
• 1968: Grambling State University
• 1969: Florida A&M University and Miami-area high school bands
• 1970: Southern University's "Human Jukebox" with Margeurite Piazza, Doc Severinson, Al Hirt, Lionel Hampton, and Carol Channing
• 1971: Southeast Missouri State University with Anita Bryant
• 1972: Tyler Junior College with Ella Fitzgerald, Carol Channing, and Al Hirt
• 1973: University of Michigan with Woody Herman and Andy Williams
• 1974: University of Texas
• 1975: Grambling State University with Mercer Ellington
• 1977: Los Angeles Unified All-City Marching Band
• 1978: Tyler Junior College with Pete Fountain and Al Hirt
• 1980: Grambling State University
• 1981: Southern University's "Human Jukebox" with Helen O'Connell
• 1984: University of Florida and Florida State University
• 1987: Grambling State University and University of Southern California with George Burns and Mickey Rooney
• 1988: San Diego State University, California State University-Northridge, and University of Southern California with Chubby Checker and The Rockettes
• 1990: Nicholls State University, Southern University's "Human Jukebox", and University of Louisiana at Lafayette with Peter Fountain, Doug Kershaw, and Irma Thomas
• 1992: University of Minnesota with Gloria Estefan
• 1998: Grambling State University with Boyz II Men, Smokey Robinson, Martha Reeves, The Temptations, and Queen Latifah
• 2004: University of Houston and Texas Southern's "Ocean of Soul" with Janet Jackson, P. Diddy, Nelly, Kid Rock, Justin Timberlake, and Jessica Simpson
• 2007: Florida A&M University with Prince
• 2011: Prairie View A&M with The Black Eyed Peas, Usher, and Slash
• 2012: Avon High School, Center Grove High School drumline, Fishers High School drumline, Franklin Central High School drumline with Madonna, LMFAO, Nicki Minaj, M.I.A., and Cee Lo Green
• 2015: Arizona State University with Katy Perry, Lenny Kravitz, and Missy Elliott
• 2016: University of California with Coldplay, Beyoncé, and Bruno Mars
• 2018: University of Minnesota with Justin Timberlake
• 2019: Georgia State University with Maroon 5, Travis Scott, and Big Boi
• 2024: Jackson State University's "Sonic Boom of the South" with Usher

How to Watch Marching Band Streams Live On FloMarching

The 2025 WGI and DCI season is streaming on FloMarching. Check out the rebroadcasts of all the events this season on FloMarching.

STREAMING: Watch the 2025 WGI season live on FloMarching. SIGN UP HERE.

On Your TV: Now Available on Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast & Apple TV.

Cast: Cast to your smart TV including Vizio, Samsung and LG TVs.

On The Go: Download the FloSports app on iOS or Android.

Don't Miss The DCI Season On FloMarching

The DCI season begins in June and can be streamed live on FloMarching, including the 2025 DCI World Championships in August. Stay tuned for the full 2025 DCI streaming schedule.

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