Shania Twain Was the Last Country Star to Headline the Super Bowl—23 Years Ago

Bad Bunny will take the stage for the Super Bowl LX halftime show, marking over two decades since a country artist performed during the big game.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Super Bowl LX is set to take place on February 8, 2026, with the New England Patriots facing off against the Seattle Seahawks. While the excitement for the big game is high, much of the attention will be focused on the halftime show performer - Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny. This announcement has left country music fans wondering when they last saw a star from their genre take the Super Bowl stage, which was over 23 years ago when Shania Twain performed in 2003.

Why it matters

Country music has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, with artists regularly selling out major arenas and setting attendance records. However, the genre has been absent from the high-profile Super Bowl halftime show for more than two decades, raising questions about the lack of country representation on one of the biggest stages in music.

The details

In 2003, Shania Twain was the last country artist to perform during the Super Bowl halftime show, where she was paired with No Doubt and Sting. Prior to that, the 1994 Super Bowl featured a "Rockin' Country Sunday" lineup with Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, Wynonna, and Naomi Judd. Since then, country stars have been limited to singing the National Anthem or "America the Beautiful" on Super Bowl Sunday, with performers like Reba McEntire, Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill, Mickey Guyton, and Luke Bryan taking on those duties. This year, Charlie Puth will sing the National Anthem, Brandi Carlile will perform "America the Beautiful," and Coco Jones will sing "Lift Every Voice and Sing."

  • Super Bowl LX will be held on February 8, 2026.
  • Shania Twain last performed during the Super Bowl halftime show in 2003.
  • The last time a country music lineup took the Super Bowl halftime stage was in 1994.

The players

Bad Bunny

A Puerto Rican artist who has been one of the top three most-streamed artists on Spotify since 2020 and will be performing the Super Bowl LX halftime show.

Shania Twain

A country music star who was the last country artist to headline the Super Bowl halftime show, performing in 2003.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

The absence of country music stars from the high-profile Super Bowl halftime show for over two decades, despite the genre's continued popularity, highlights the need for more diverse representation on one of the biggest stages in music.