'It's extraordinary. It's an adrenaline rush roller coaster': Inside the Super Bowl halftime show

By Glen Levy, CNN

Updated 8:30 AM ET, Fri February 5, 2021

Beyonce performs during the Super Bowl halftime show in 2013.
Photos: The evolution of the Super Bowl halftime show
Beyonce performs during the Super Bowl halftime show in 2013.
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The first Super Bowl was held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 1967. The halftime entertainment included trumpeter Al Hirt, a local high school drill team and the marching bands of Grambling State University and the University of Arizona. But the most memorable performers might have been the Bell Rocket Air Men flying around in jet packs.
Photos: The evolution of the Super Bowl halftime show
The first Super Bowl was held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 1967. The halftime entertainment included trumpeter Al Hirt, a local high school drill team and the marching bands of Grambling State University and the University of Arizona. But the most memorable performers might have been the Bell Rocket Air Men flying around in jet packs.
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The New Christy Minstrels, a folk and pop group, were one of the performers during the Super Bowl halftime show in 1970. The game was held at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, so the show's theme was tribute to Mardi Gras.
Photos: The evolution of the Super Bowl halftime show
The New Christy Minstrels, a folk and pop group, were one of the performers during the Super Bowl halftime show in 1970. The game was held at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, so the show's theme was tribute to Mardi Gras.
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Hirt plays the trumpet while Ella Fitzgerald sings at the Super Bowl in 1972. The show that year paid tribute to jazz legend Louis Armstrong, who died the year before.
Photos: The evolution of the Super Bowl halftime show
Hirt plays the trumpet while Ella Fitzgerald sings at the Super Bowl in 1972. The show that year paid tribute to jazz legend Louis Armstrong, who died the year before.
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The halftime show in 1977 was produced by Disney, and the theme was "It's a Small World."
Photos: The evolution of the Super Bowl halftime show
The halftime show in 1977 was produced by Disney, and the theme was "It's a Small World."
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A Mardi Gras-themed float is part of the show in 1981, which took place inside the Louisiana Superdome.
Photos: The evolution of the Super Bowl halftime show
A Mardi Gras-themed float is part of the show in 1981, which took place inside the Louisiana Superdome.
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The crowd contributes a colorful background to the Super Bowl halftime show in 1983, which was held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
Photos: The evolution of the Super Bowl halftime show
The crowd contributes a colorful background to the Super Bowl halftime show in 1983, which was held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
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The NFL switched things up in 1991, featuring popular boy band New Kids on the Block for the Super Bowl's 25th anniversary. But TV audiences didn't actually see the show until after the game because ABC showed a Gulf War news report instead.
Photos: The evolution of the Super Bowl halftime show
The NFL switched things up in 1991, featuring popular boy band New Kids on the Block for the Super Bowl's 25th anniversary. But TV audiences didn't actually see the show until after the game because ABC showed a Gulf War news report instead.
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The "King of Pop," Michael Jackson, performed several of his hit songs in 1993. His performance is often credited with launching the tradition of blockbuster halftime shows.