Across sixty Super Bowls, only two halftime shows have ever involved country artists. In 1994, we got the “Rockin’ Country Sunday” with Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, and The Judds. Then, in 2003, Shania Twain performed alongside No Doubt and Sting. Today, country music is wildly popular, and demand for another country halftime show is rapidly growing.
Looking at the era in which the “Rockin’ Country Sunday” occurred, country music was a huge trend. We’re talking about the golden era of nineties country, so it made sense for the NFL to notice that. Currently, country’s the biggest it’s been since that era, but the question remains: “Will a country music Super Bowl halftime show ever actually happen again?” The answer to that question depends on a few main factors.
First, it’s important to understand how these performances are booked. The man in charge is Jay-Z. Although the NFL is also pretty involved in the selection, he and his company, ROC Nation, primarily decide the acts for the show. With that said, their decision needs to make sense for this stage, rather than being based solely on vibe. Therefore, the second factor concerns the artist’s size. Right now there are only two, or possibly three, artists that are big enough to meet that requirement.
Realistically, Ella Langley, Morgan Wallen, and perhaps Zach Bryan are currently popular enough to make sense in the conversation of potential Super Bowl Halftime acts. Beyond their long-lasting hits like “Choosin’ Texas,” “Last Night,” and “Something In The Orange,” these artists have cultivated a new movement in the genre, creating a massive buzz not seen in decades. Considering that “Choosin’ Texas” is currently tied with Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” for the longest-held No. 1 position on the Billboard Hot 100, now may be the perfect time to do another country takeover.
Still, with ROC Nation previously booking artists as big as The Weeknd, Bad Bunny, and Rihanna, there’s very little precedent for a country artist to appear in this slot.
Not everyone at the Super Bowl would be extremely interested in an all-country halftime show, but that goes for any other artist that performs. Every year, there’s plenty of hubbub online about why the selected acts aren’t a good fit. As we’ve seen year after year, complaints are inevitable, but Ella, Wallen, and Zach might actually be huge crowd-pleasers.
Boots and cowboy hats are trendy again. Now, it’s not unusual to hear a country song in an ad or grocery store. Look at the music in Yellowstone, Twisters, and Landman, not to mention the GTA IV soundtrack. Country music is back in a big way, and there’s some reason to keep your hopes up that the NFL will get in on the action.
