Backstreet Boys Eyeing 2027 Super Bowl Halftime Show

Pop group promises a "pop explosion" if they get the coveted halftime slot.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The Backstreet Boys are actively campaigning to perform the 2027 Super Bowl halftime show, with member AJ McLean starting an online petition on behalf of the group. The band members say if they headline the show, they'll bring back other iconic 90s/2000s pop acts like Britney Spears, *NSYNC, and 98 Degrees for a "pop explosion." The Backstreet Boys previously performed the national anthem at Super Bowl XXXV in 2001 and starred in a T-Mobile commercial that aired during this year's Super Bowl.

Why it matters

The Super Bowl halftime show is one of the most watched and coveted live music performances in the world, and landing that slot could provide a major career boost for the Backstreet Boys as they look to capitalize on the success of their current Las Vegas residency.

The details

AJ McLean has started an online petition on behalf of the Backstreet Boys to perform the 2027 Super Bowl halftime show, which will be held at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The band members say if they headline the show, they'll bring back other iconic 90s and 2000s pop acts like Britney Spears, *NSYNC, and 98 Degrees for a "pop explosion." The Backstreet Boys previously performed the national anthem at Super Bowl XXXV in 2001 and starred in a T-Mobile commercial that aired during this year's Super Bowl.

  • The 2027 Super Bowl halftime show will take place at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
  • The Backstreet Boys last performed at the Super Bowl in 2001 for Super Bowl XXXV, where they sang the national anthem.
  • The Backstreet Boys starred in a T-Mobile commercial that aired during the 2023 Super Bowl.

The players

Backstreet Boys

A popular American boy band that rose to fame in the 1990s and early 2000s, known for hits like "I Want It That Way" and "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)." The group is currently in the midst of a successful Las Vegas residency.

AJ McLean

A member of the Backstreet Boys who has started an online petition on behalf of the group to perform the 2027 Super Bowl halftime show.

Nick Carter

A member of the Backstreet Boys who says the group would bring back other 90s/2000s pop acts like Britney Spears and *NSYNC if they headline the 2027 Super Bowl halftime show.

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What they’re saying

“I just started an online petition on behalf of the group for us to do halftime 2027. You better vote yes for us to do halftime, especially because it's gonna be in Los Angeles at SoFi next year. That's home for me and Kevin [Richardson], so that would be pretty awesome.”

— AJ McLean, Backstreet Boys member (People)

“We're bringing back Britney Spears, we're bringing back *NSYNC, we're bringing back 98 Degrees. We're headlining. We're bringing all of our pop friends back... We're part of a club of all those artists that you'd have to bring them back.”

— Nick Carter, Backstreet Boys member (People)

What’s next

The Backstreet Boys will continue to campaign and promote their online petition in hopes of being selected to perform the 2027 Super Bowl halftime show.

The takeaway

The Backstreet Boys' push to headline the 2027 Super Bowl halftime show demonstrates their enduring popularity and the band's ambition to recapture the spotlight on one of the biggest stages in the world of entertainment.