From Halftime Shows to National Anthems — What Are the Gayest Super Bowl Musical Moments?
For some, it isn't the game that makes the Super Bowl worth viewing. Rather it is the commercials, the National Anthem, and the sheer spectacle of the halftime show, which over the years has had its gay moments. Here's a list of the gayest moments with viewing links.
Of all the days of the year to invite a discussion about the gayest moments, the Super Bowl doesn't seem like an obvious choice. Of course, for the better part of 56 years, the Super Bowl has been both a ratings juggernaut and as good of an excuse as any to eat, drink, and bet your way into oblivion.
But for those of us who don't really care about the actual game, there's something else besides food and alcohol that lures us to our televisions on this holiest day of American sports: the performers. From spectacular halftime shows to kick-ass national anthems, the game day performers have accounted for some of the gayest pop culture moments in entertainment.
This Sunday, the Los Angeles Rams will face the Cincinnati Bengals during Super Bowl LVI at LA's SoFi Stadium, the first at the brand-new venue. This year, country singer Mickey Guyton will sing the national anthem and the halftime show will be a group effort, bringing together Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and Mary J. Blige. While this year's show probably won't be anything close to gay, it's a good time to look back at the Super Bowl's 10 gayest moments.
Lady Gaga (2017)
Without a doubt that gayest halftime show of all time, Mother Monster doubled down on her message of acceptance and inclusivity in this instantly classic halftime show, one in which many believe the word "transgender" was uttered for the first time during a Super Bowl. It was a pointedly political performance in the midst of the grim days of the Trump presidency, and during those brief 13 minutes, Gaga certainly made America spectacular again.
Madonna (2012)
Of course, Madonna's 2012 halftime show — one of the best of all time — is a close second to Gaga's in terms of gayness. With special appearances from LMFAO, Nicki Minaj, M.I.A., Cee Lo Green, and a 200-person choir, the Queen of Pop began with "Vogue" and ended with "Like a Prayer," easily two of the gayest songs that have ever been performed during a sporting event. And she killed it.
Katy Perry (2015)
In terms of sheer television viewership, Katy Perry still holds the crown when it comes to viewers: a whopping 118.5 million people tuned in to see Perry tear through a slew of hits, including "Roar," "Dark Horse," "Teenage Dream," and "Firework." What's more, she did the world a great service by inviting Missy Elliot to perform "Get Ur Freak On" and "Work It," a surprise moment that seemed to delight the world. And who can forget the debut of Left Shark?
Diana Ross (1996)
In honor of the 30th anniversary of the Super Bowl, Miss Diana Ross was invited to be that year's superstar performer, and she left absolutely nothing on the table. After a satisfying medley of Supreme hits and some of her earlier singles like "Reach Out and Touch" and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," she covered Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" wearing a skintight purple bodysuit and a fabulous, flowing cape. But it was her exit from Sun Devil Stadium in Arizona that still goes down as the single most extra moment in Super Bowl history: a helicopter landed on stage and whisked her out of the stadium. Iconic.
Britney Spears joins Aerosmith and NSYNC (2001)
While it's true that Aerosmith and NSYNC were the headliners, Super Bowl XXXV went down in history as one of the gayest of all time for one reason: Britney Spears, who was a surprise guest that year. During the show's finale, Aerosmith, NSYNC, Britney, Mary J. Blige, and Nelly joined forces for "Walk This Way," one of the most iconic Super Bowl moments of all time. And it's time for a redo: Britney has undoubtedly earned the right to headline her own halftime show.
Prince (2007)
Sexy and legendary, Prince brought his effortless brand of androgyny to the football field for what is surely one the big day's queerest moments. Sure, Prince toned it down for the Super Bowl and didn't fully display the flamboyant androgyny that he was known for, but still, his sheer fabulousness was evident at every turn.
Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake (2004)
The fact that Janet didn't get to headline her own solo halftime show still reeks of tragedy, but 2004's show still goes down as one of the gayest, no thanks to Jessica Simpson, P. Diddy, Nelly, or (gross) Kid Rock. And when a show opens with Jackson's iconic "All for You," you know you're in for a very gay-friendly show. Of course, what happened during the closing "Rock Your Body" is what that year is most remembered for. But if you look back, Jackson's performance of "All for You" and "Rhythm Nation" is impeccable. Justice for Janet.
Demi Lovato (2020)
Demi Lovato, who announced last year that they're nonbinary, has long been a staunch advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, even before they officially came out as bisexual in 2015. Demi has gone through some very public ups and downs, chief among them a 2018 overdose that almost killed them. What made this national anthem all the more potent was the realization that we had almost lost one of the greatest talents of their generation. We're glad Demi is still around.
Cher (1999)
At 42, Cher won an Oscar for "Moonstruck." At 52, she released the biggest song of her career — "Believe" — and won her first ever Grammy award. "Believe" was released three months before Super Bowl XXXIII, and it was a phenomenon. While we'd still like to see Cher headline her own halftime show, her performance of the national anthem goes down as one of the best of all time.
Lady Gaga (2016)
In a list of the gayest of anything, isn't it only appropriate that Lady Gaga appears twice? The year before she headlined her iconic halftime show, she appeared in a glittery red suit, red eyeshadow, blue nails, and slicked back blonde hair to deliver one of the best national anthem performances that the Super Bowl has ever seen. Her rendition was so powerful, of course, that she would go on to sing the national anthem at Joe Biden's inauguration in 2021.