From Cardi B to Adele: The Stars Who Said No to the Super Bowl Halftime Show

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The Super Bowl halftime show has become one of the most-watched performances in the world. Months before the big game, speculation always builds over who might take the stage. For most artists, it’s a dream gig—but some have surprisingly turned it down. One of them? Cardi B.

In a recent interview with Billboard, the rapper was asked if she could imagine herself performing at halftime. With a candid reply no one saw coming, Cardi revealed she had already been offered the chance. “Of course. I got asked to do the Super Bowl and I denied it. I feel like soon, if I get to do it, I’m going to have more hits. I’m going to be more experienced and I’m going to eat that up,” she admitted.

It’s still unclear when exactly the offer came her way. What is clear, though, is how much hip-hop has reshaped the halftime stage in recent years. In 2024, Grammy winner Kendrick Lamar headlined the show, solidifying the genre’s place at the center of one of the biggest pop culture moments of the year.

Cardi B tells Billboard that she turned down the Super Bowl Halftime Show:

“I got asked to do the Super Bowl and I denied it. I feel like soon, if I get to do it, I’m going to have more hits. I’m going to be more experienced and I’m going to eat that up.” pic.twitter.com/XWmaPSZygE

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) September 3, 2025

However, Cardi isn’t the only artist who has turned down the Super Bowl stage. Believe it or not, several big names have also passed on the opportunity.

Artists Who Said “No” to the Super Bowl

According to El Financiero, Adele declined the chance to perform at Super Bowl LI in Houston back in 2017. During a concert in 2016, she explained her decision, saying, “That show isn’t really about music… and I don’t dance or anything like that.”

Rihanna, on the other hand, did light up the halftime show in 2023, but she famously refused to perform at the 2019 Super Bowl. Her decision was tied to Colin Kaepernick’s protest, after the quarterback knelt during the national anthem to bring attention to racism and police brutality—an act that led to his ban from the NFL. In solidarity, Rihanna said no.

Jay-Z is also on this list. According to him, the NFL suggested that he bring Rihanna and Kanye West—his collaborators on ‘Run This Town.’ But he didn’t appreciate those conditions, saying that wasn’t how the show should be done. As he put it, they shouldn’t dictate who he had to perform with. As The New York Times reported, “It was a matter of principle.”

According to Milenio, Taylor Swift and Nicki Minaj have also been invited but turned it down due to scheduling conflicts. The list of artists who’ve passed includes metal giants like Metallica and powerhouse performers like Pink. As for Kanye West, reports say he wasn’t satisfied with the production setup, which he considered too minimal.