Not every person who watches the Super Bowl does so purely for the game itself. For many, the multi-million dollar commercials or gambling are as much or more of a draw. In that vein, the Super Bowl halftime show draws considerable attention.
Super Bowl 2015: How to watch the halftime show live online, stream info and more
Katy Perry and special guests take the stage at halftime.
This year, pop superstar Katy Perry and special guest Lenny Kravitz will headline the halftime show. The NFL revealed Perry as the top performer back in November. She later announced in January that Kravitz would be joining her.
Perry has sold millions of albums and is best known for hits like “Hot N Cold,” “I Kissed a Girl” and “Firework.” In 2010, her album Teenage Dream became the first to spawn five No. 1 hits since Michael Jackson’s Thriller nearly three decades earlier. More recently, her album Prism produced hits “Roar,” “Dark Horse” and more. Before Perry became a successful pop star, she performed under her given name Katy Hudson as a contemporary Christian rock act.
Before tabbing Perry for its the halftime show, the NFL made waves when reports surfaced stating that potential performers would be asked to contribute income from post-Super Bowl tours or other financial compensation in order to play. The league does not normally pay its performers for playing at the Super Bowl. Rather, the increased exposure from appearing generally serves as ample compensation. It is not known whether Perry is paying the NFL to play the Super Bowl. According to the Wall Street Journal, other musical acts considered were Rihanna and Coldplay.
This is not Perry’s first foray into the sporting world. During the college football season, she appeared on ESPN’s College Gameday to pick Ole Miss to upset Alabama and endure Lee Corso’s giant elephant head. In terms of musical performances in front of a large national audience, she has previously played at the Grammys.
As for the halftime show’s other named performer, Kravtiz is a Grammy-winning singer songwriter. His began working in music in 1978 before he was old enough to drive a car. His solo career began in earnest in the 1980s, and within a decade he had become one of the top-selling solo artists of his time. He wrote or co-wrote numerous hits including “Are You Gonna Go My Way,” “Fly Away” and “It Ain’t Over Til It’s Over.”
Like Perry, Kravitz has a long track record performing on television. He has played the Grammys and other award shows. In terms of sporting events, Kravitz has performed at NFL Thanksgiving games and the prestigious CFL Grey Cup.
Though only Perry and Kravitz have been announced, the Super Bowl halftime show usually involves one or more surprise guests. In many cases, the names of the surprise guests are leaked within a few days of the game, but in other cases they simply appear onstage without advance warning. On Thursday, the AP reported that Perry’s unannounced guest, which she previously hinted was a female “throwback” musician, would be rapper Missy Elliott. In previous years, performers like Slash from Guns N’ Roses and Destiny’s Child have made their way onto the stage.
How to watch
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale
Super Bowl TV schedule: NBC, 6:30 p.m. ET
Announcers: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michelle Tafoya
Further reading
For more on the Patriots, check out Pats Pulpit. For additional coverage of the Seahawks, head on over to Field Gulls.
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