His palms were sweaty. His knees were weak. His arms were
heavy. But on Sunday, Eminem will take the grandest stage of them all –
headlining the Super Bowl LVI halftime show collectively with Dr. Dre, Snoop
Dogg, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar.
There are too many hits to count between the Detroit “Rap
God,” the West Coast rap legends and the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul.
Let’s look back at who else has performed at the most
over-analyzed halftime show in all of sports so far this century. (Note: Justin
Timberlake is leading the way with three appearances. Beyoncé and Bruno Mars
each have two. Mary J. Blige returns to the halftime show for the first time
since 2001.)
2021: The Weeknd
The Weeknd performs during the halftime show of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
2020: Shakira, Jennifer Lopez (special guests: Bad Bunny, J
Balvin, Emme Muñiz)
Singers Shakira, left, and Jennifer Lopez perform during the halftime show of the NFL Super Bowl 54 football game between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Kansas City Chiefs won 31-20. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
2019: Maroon 5 (special guests: Travis Scott, Big Boi)
Adam Levine of Maroon 5 performs during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New England Patriots Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
2018: Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake performs at the halftime show during a game between the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles at the NFL Super Bowl 52 football game Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018, in Minneapolis. The Eagles won 41-33. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
2017: Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga performs during the halftime show of the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons, in Houston. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
2016: Coldplay (special guests: Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, Mark
Ronson, Gustavo Dudamel)
Beyonce, Coldplay singer Chris Martin and Bruno Mars perform during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl 50 football game Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
2015: Katy Perry (special guests: Lenny Kravitz, Missy
Elliott)
Katy Perry performs during halftime of NFL Super Bowl XLIX football game Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
2014: Bruno Mars (special guests: Red Hot Chili Peppers)
Bruno Mars performs during the halftime show of the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
2013: Beyoncé (special guests: Destiny's Child)
Beyonce performs during the halftime show of the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
2012: Madonna (special guests: LMFAO, Cirque du Soleil,
Nicki Minaj, M.I.A., Cee Lo Green, Andy Lewis)
Madonna, center, performs with Nicki Minaj, left, and M.I.A. during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
2011: The Black Eyed Peas (special guests: Usher, Slash)
The Black Eyed Peas apl.de.ap, left, Fergie, second from left, will.i.am, second from right, and Taboo perform during halftime of NFL football Super Bowl XLV Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Charlie Krupa)
2010: The Who
Roger Daltrey, left, and guitarist Pete Townshend of The Who perform during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl XLIV football game in Miami, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
2009: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
Bruce Springsteen, left, and Steven Van Zandt, of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, perform at halftime at the NFL Super Bowl XLIII football game between the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2009, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
2008: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers perform during halftime of the Super Bowl XLII football game between the New England Patriots and New York Giants Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
2007: Prince
Prince performs during the halftime show at the Super Bowl XLI football game in Miami. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
2006: The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones perform on stage during halftime of the Super Bowl XL, Detroit, Michigan (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
2005: Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney reacts during his halftime show at Super Bowl XXXIX between the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla., on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2005. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
2004: Jessica Simpson, Janet Jackson, P. Diddy, Nelly, Kid
Rock, Justin Timberlake
(AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
2003: Shania Twain, No Doubt
Shania Twain performs during the halftime of Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2003. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
2002: U2
The Edge, from left, Bono and Adam Clayton, of U2, perform during the halftime show of Super Bowl XXXVI at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
2001: Aerosmith, NSYNC (special guests: Britney Spears,
Nelly, Mary J. Blige)
Aerosmith performs at halftime of Super Bowl XXXV Sunday, Jan. 28, 2001, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
2000: Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias,
Toni Braxton
Entertainers Edward James Olmos, second from left, and Phil Collins, second from right, share a laugh during a news conference for the Super Bowl halftime show participants in Atlanta Thursday, Jan. 27, 2000. Also shown are Enrique Iglesias, left, and Toni Braxton, right, who will take part in the show. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)