The Super Bowl Halftime Show draws millions of viewers and often comes with praise or criticism. It's a high-stakes stage with plenty of expectations. So it makes sense that not every artist wants in. A handful of big names have walked away from the chance to perform, and their reasons might surprise you more than the offer itself.
Taylor Swift Focused On Reclaiming Her Masters
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According to Variety, Taylor declined the 2023 Super Bowl Halftime Show to prioritize re-recording her early albums. At the time, she was in the thick of reclaiming ownership of her music catalog by turning old hits into "Taylor's Version." The move also cleared her schedule for what became her record-breaking Eras Tour—another stadium spectacle with full creative control.
Jay-Z Didn't Want To Be Told What To Perform
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In a New York Times interview, Jay-Z said the NFL once offered him the show, but only if he brought out Rihanna and Kanye West to do Run This Town. That didn't sit right with him. He wasn't interested in being given a setlist as a condition. "That's not how you go about it," he said.
Adele Said It Wasn't Really About Music
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During a 2016 concert, Adele told the crowd that she'd turned down the halftime show offer because the format didn't align with what she does. "That show is not about music," she said, pointing to the choreography and spectacle that comes with the gig. She appreciated being asked, but didn't feel her style fit the stage.
Outkast's André 3000 Didn't Want To Shorten Songs
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Big Boi revealed in a 2015 radio interview that Outkast was invited to do the Super Bowl, but the duo didn't make it. The issue? André 3000 didn't want to chop up tracks for the time limit. Trimming hits like Hey Ya! wasn't on the table for him, so they declined. Big Boi later performed solo in 2019.
Pink Wasn't Interested In The NFL's Politics
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Pink told Billboard she was approached for the 2019 show, but passed. Her decision had to do with how the league treated Colin Kaepernick and how artists were often criticized after performing. "I'd probably take a knee and get carried out," she said. She had already sung the national anthem at the 2018 game, but skipped the main stage.
Cardi B Wanted To Back Kaepernick
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In 2019, Cardi B told the Associated Press that she turned down the NFL's offer to support Colin Kaepernick. She said walking away from the payday was tough, but her principles mattered more. That year, she still performed at Super Bowl weekend parties, but not during the game.
Dolly Parton Didn't Think She Was A Match For The Format
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Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Dolly Parton shared that the Super Bowl had come calling more than once. She never accepted, citing scheduling issues and self-doubt about whether she fit the scale of such a production. "Those are big, big productions," she said.
Rihanna Once Said No For A Cause
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Before she headlined the 2023 show, Rihanna declined an earlier offer. In a 2019 interview with Vogue, she said she walked away in support of Kaepernick. She didn't feel right performing on a stage connected to the NFL while tensions over justice protests remained high.
Drake Said Timing Wasn't Right
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Though never officially confirmed by the NFL, Drake has long been rumored as a name on the league's wishlist. Billboard reported that he was among the artists they approached, but scheduling and planning didn't come together. Between album releases and brand partnerships, the logistics didn't quite line up.
Nicki Minaj Passed Up A Cameo
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Nicki Minaj did appear on the Super Bowl stage once, joining Madonna during the 2012 halftime show. Yet she did not return when another opportunity surfaced. According to V1019's roundup of artists who turned down the halftime show, Minaj was approached in 2019 about joining Maroon 5's performance and declined the offer.
