The iconic boy band, Backstreet Boys, are making a significant push to headline the Super Bowl LXI halftime show in 2027, envisioning a grand 'pop explosion' with fellow artists from their era. This ambitious campaign comes more than two decades after they notably turned down an opportunity to perform at the Super Bowl XXXV halftime show in 2001, opting instead to sing the national anthem.
Backstreet Boys Set Sights on Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show
In a recent and notable development, the Backstreet Boys, comprising AJ McLean, Kevin Richardson, Howie Dorough, Nick Carter, and Brian Littrell, are vigorously campaigning to perform at the Super Bowl LXI halftime show. This initiative gained public attention during their recent concert at the Las Vegas Sphere, where AJ McLean directly addressed the audience, exclaiming, 'What do you guys think? Backstreet Boys: 2027 Super Bowl halftime. Let's make it happen! I mean, why not? It's in Los Angeles, it's right down the street.' McLean further solidified this ambition in a subsequent interview with PEOPLE, revealing, 'I just started an online petition on behalf of the group for us to do halftime 2027.' This bold move marks a distinct shift from their earlier stance in 2001, when the group, as Nick Carter disclosed to Entertainment Tonight in 2021, declined an invitation to join the Super Bowl halftime show, choosing instead to deliver a memorable rendition of the national anthem. Carter reflected on that decision, noting that they 'loved the Whitney Houston rendition of the national anthem,' and for them, it was 'a memorable experience.' Now, the band's vision for 2027 is far more expansive, with Carter suggesting a 'pop explosion' featuring other beloved artists from the late '90s and early 2000s, including Britney Spears and *NSYNC. While McLean playfully pointed out that those acts have already performed, Carter enthusiastically insisted on bringing back '98 Degrees,' asserting, 'We're headlining. We're bringing all of our pop friends back; it would be something like that.' Howie Dorough added to the excitement, expressing a desire for dramatic aerial elements, 'some kind of flying in the stadium.' The group's renewed interest in the Super Bowl stage follows their recent appearance in a popular T-Mobile commercial during this year's Super Bowl, where they reinterpreted their hit 'I Want It That Way' to promote cellular service benefits.
The Backstreet Boys' current campaign for the Super Bowl halftime show is a fascinating look at how artists evolve and reconsider past opportunities. It highlights the enduring power of nostalgia and the potential for a collective celebration of a bygone musical era. Their desire to headline such a major event, combined with the vision of a 'pop explosion' featuring their contemporaries, speaks to a broader cultural appetite for familiar and feel-good entertainment. This initiative also serves as a reminder that even established artists can continue to dream big and actively shape their future, demonstrating an inspiring blend of ambition and strategic planning.