A Brief History of Super Bowl Halftime Shows

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By Brian Koerber2014-02-01 18:30:30 UTC

The Super Bowlis an American pastime, whether you enjoy football or not.

For some, the halftime show is just as (if not more) important as the wings, commercials, and the game itself. The performance is a high honor for artists, on par with winning a Grammy, or being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

See also: 5 Football Facts More Entertaining Than a Bruno Mars Halftime Show

The show originally consisted of college marching bands, but since the mid '80s, has featured popular recording artists and celebrities in an effort to oppose counterprogramming such as Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl , or MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch.

The shift paid off. In 2012, an average of 114 million people tuned in for Madonna's halfttime performance, making it the most-viewed halftime show of all time, a record evenBeyoncé couldn't touch.

This year, the Super Bowl XLVIII Halftime Show will be performed by Bruno Mars, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers on Feb. 2 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

Topics: Entertainment, football, Halftime, halftimeshow, Music, Super Bowl, Videos

Image: AP Photo/David Phillip /Associated Press