Lady Gaga Super Bowl Halftime Show Overview
Lady Gaga headlined the Pepsi Super Bowl LVI halftime show on February 13, 2022, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The show aired live on NBC and was produced by Ricky Kirshner and directed by Hamish Hamilton. The performance featured a mix of her biggest hits and a tribute segment honoring healthcare workers, with a total runtime of approximately 13 minutes and 40 seconds. The show drew an average of 103 million viewers in the United States, making it one of the most-watched halftime performances in recent years. Lady Gaga was the first artist to perform the halftime show after a two-year break caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and her appearance marked a return to large-scale live production. The setlist included songs from her discography such as "Poker Face," "Born This Way," and "Bad Romance," alongside a dramatic finale featuring pyrotechnics and a suspended microphone array. The halftime show is one of the most expensive advertising slots in the world, with the NFL and Pepsi paying for production costs, while the performer typically does not receive a fee. More details on the halftime show format and viewership can be found on the official NBC broadcast page NBC.
The Super Bowl halftime show is a marquee entertainment event that takes place during the NFL championship game. It is produced in partnership with the league and a major sponsor, with Pepsi serving as the presenting sponsor for recent editions. The show is broadcast globally and is one of the most-watched television events each year. The NFL selects headliners based on cultural impact, streaming metrics, and ticket sales for their stadium tours. Lady Gaga's selection reflected her status as a top-charting artist with multiple Grammy Awards and a consistent presence in global streaming rankings. The halftime performance is distinct from a concert tour because it is a tightly choreographed, broadcast-first production with strict time limits and broadcast standards. The show is also subject to review by the Federal Communications Commission for content standards, though the NFL and broadcast partners coordinate closely to manage live risks. The production team includes choreographers, lighting designers, and audio engineers who work for months on staging and safety. The Super Bowl halftime show is often cited as a major driver of streaming spikes for the performing artist in the days following the game.
Hold My Hand Song and Lady Gaga Super Bowl Connection
"Hold My Hand" is a song by Lady Gaga that was released as a single on May 3, 2022, and serves as the theme song for the film "Top Gun: Maverick." The song was written by Lady Gaga, BloodPop, and Benjamin Rice, and produced by BloodPop and Lady Gaga. It reached number one on the Billboard US Rock & Alternative Airplay chart and entered the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was also nominated for Best Original Song at the 95th Academy Awards and won the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media. Lady Gaga performed "Hold My Hand" during the Super Bowl LVI halftime show as part of a curated setlist that highlighted her work in film and music. The performance included a dramatic vocal intro with a backing choir and a stripped-back arrangement that emphasized the song's lyrics about resilience and support. The song's inclusion in the halftime show was noted by media outlets as a strategic choice to promote the upcoming "Top Gun: Maverick" release. Streaming data from Luminate showed a significant increase in "Hold My Hand" plays following the Super Bowl broadcast. The song's chart performance and awards recognition are documented by Billboard and the Recording Academy Billboard.
"Hold My Hand" is a pop ballad with orchestral elements and a duration of three minutes and 37 seconds. The song was recorded at multiple studios in Los Angeles and features