Country Music’s Never Been Bigger. It Still Can’t Get a Super Bowl Halftime
Happy sportsball season. The National Football League is underway in the United States, and depending on who you’re rooting for, you’re either assured your team is probably going to win it all, or might not win a game all season. Such is the mood swings that make football so compelling.
The NFL spent little time building anticipation in who might perform at this year’s Super Bowl in February of 2025. On Sunday, September 8th, they announced that Kendrick Lamar will be this season’s Super Bowl entertainment. Perhaps it’s his prize for winning his recent beef with Drake. Though this is coming from a country music perspective, Kendrick Lamar has always come across as one of the more thoughtful and talented characters from the hip-hop world, and it’s hard to argue with the pick.
However, if there ever was ever a season when country music should finally get an opportunity to showcase itself to what is the biggest audience in all of media each year, it was this one. Sidelining discussions about Morgan Wallen for a second (though he is the 2nd most popular artists in music behind Taylor Swift), there were so many options for the NFL to have a country-themed halftime in 2025, while still appealing to the Super Bowl’s broad audience.
Post Malone has taken the country music world by storm with his new album F-1 Trillion, and in a collaborative manner that could result in all kinds of cool cameos for true country artists. Zach Bryan continues to be one of the biggest artists in all of music, and is receiving high praise for his massive arena and stadium shows. Luke Combs and Chris Stapleton are nearly universally-beloved household names who’ve proven their worth on big stages, including Stapleton performing a memorable version of the National Anthem at the Super Bowl a couple of years ago.
But there is a huge barrier standing between a country artist playing the Super Bowl halftime, and it’s not popularity or talent. Since 2019 when the NFL partnered with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation as their official “Live Music Entertainment Strategists,” it pretty much put country music on the sidelines permanently like a 3rd string quarterback, and relegated to preamble performances.
Some had the idea that maybe with Jay-Z’s wife releasing a (cough) “country” album this year, this would be an opportunity for Beyoncé to make her Super Bowl halftime return, if only in collaboration with other artists from the genre. Since race was a big part of the calculus in the NFL collaborating with Jay-Z, it could be an opportunity to highlight the elements of country music’s Black roots.
But not only does Beyoncé seem perfectly uninterested in promoting her new album whatsoever (it slipped to #138 on the album charts this week), Jay-Z is probably smart to see that it would be taken as a stroke of nepotism to book his wife.
How long has it been since country music was featured during the the Super Bowl halftime? By the time the kickoff happens on February 9th, 2025, it will have been 31 years. You have to go all the way back to 1994 when Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, and The Judds played the Super Bowl halftime to find the last and really only time country music was featured during the Super Bowl halftime.
For the record, Doug Kershaw also made a quick appearance in 1990 when the Super Bowl was in his native state of Louisiana, and Shania Twain who you could argue was well into her pop phase performed with No Doubt in 2003. But even that Shania Twain performance was over 20 years ago.
Since the Super Bowl halftime Show became a big deal in 1991 with New Kids on the Block taking the field, country music has really only been featured predominantly once. When you consider that it’s one of America’s popular genres, this feels like a travesty.
Making the Super Bowl halftime show exclusively the domain of hip-hop seems like a disservice to every other genre. At this point, hip-hop performers consider it theirs to lose as if it’s their birthright. Even though there was no reason to think Lil Wayne was even in the running for the opportunity, he said publicly that losing out to Kendrick Lamar “broke me,” and that “I’m just trying to put me back together.”
Now consider how country artists must feel when it’s pretty clear they will never have the opportunity to perform at halftime. This week, Super Bowl halftime producer Jesse Collins confirmed, “It’s a decision that Jay [Z] makes. Since we’ve been onboard with that show, he’s made it every year…”
So one guy, and one guy alone gets to decide who performs the Super Bowl Halftime show that we all watch? That seems like unsportsmanlike conduct. No offense to the all-powerful Jay-Z, but at the least perhaps he could throw country music a bone one year, especially while it’s experiencing such rabid popularity. It’s unlikely this country popularity will last forever. The genre’s popularity among the general population has always been cyclical, and now it’s at its peak.
But I guess just like so many fans hoping for their favorite team to win the Super Bowl, all you can do is wait for the next season.
September 21, 2024 @ 9:17 am
Did Garth brooks never do it? Before this article if someone asked me I would have said he did.
September 21, 2024 @ 10:43 am
No, he did not. That’s a whole other thing because Garth basically held the NFL hostage to play a video of his before he would perform the National Anthem one year.
The story if you want to go deep.
https://savingcountrymusic.com/garth-brooks-vs-the-super-bowl-country-history-x/
September 21, 2024 @ 10:10 am
The choice would be obvious to me, Hank Jr. and Carrie Underwood……..
ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!!!
September 21, 2024 @ 12:10 pm
Morgan and Post are not fucking country
September 21, 2024 @ 12:49 pm
Yet they’re still too country to get a Super Bowl halftime show.
Morgan Wallen will never get it. Too sketchy of a history. Post Malone could have been a way to give it to a well-recognized star, but still showcase some country acts.
September 24, 2024 @ 8:19 am
Post Malone started with rap tho, u don’t get points for using our style to come up like wht
September 21, 2024 @ 11:10 am
You might get it once Nashville’s new dome is done but I’m still skeptcial
September 21, 2024 @ 11:20 am
I know the rest of America hates them lol but the Cowboys Thanksgiving halftime show has had a good number of country artists (Dolly was last year).
https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/nfl/cowboys/dallas-cowboys-halftime-show-thanksgiving-record/287-fef97e4b-5bde-48a5-b59e-295c4c95524f
September 21, 2024 @ 11:25 am
The NFL and NBA have gone all-in on Hip Hop culture and all of the cultural decay it brings.
Example: during breaks in the action at the Memphis Grizzlies home games, the rap “Whoop That Trick” is frequently played. So much for family entertainment.
Snoop Dogg is presented culturally as the cool uncle you wish you had. Trouble is, his legacy is championing heavy cannabis use and gang affiliation.
Stuff like this is why I don’t pay attention to the NFL and NBA. The players are also heavy cannabis users and their lack of impulse control is partly due to that.
If I sound like the village scold, go ahead and feel that way. I used to work in a criminal courthouse and I saw the detritus of society there and that’s impossible to unsee. Rant concluded…
September 21, 2024 @ 12:47 pm
Most musicians are heavy cannabis users too.
Just look at Willy. You’re not wrong on Snoop but he’s far from the only celeb given a free pass.
September 22, 2024 @ 4:00 am
Celebs are generally given a free pass on this. Willie is obviously an icon in that sphere, but he’s kept a sharp edge. When I heard his cover of “Cottage for Sale” from his Sinatra a couple years ago, I was summarily knocked on my ass.
Hip Hop’s effect on “the community” is deep, including cannabis. Before the mid-twenties when the brain is fully developed, it just corrodes the young brain like crazy.
With pro athletes, I’ve heard it said that the increased amount of soft tissue injuries is fueled in part by cannabis use and it also hinders healing.
September 22, 2024 @ 3:53 am
You could’ve saved yourself a lot of words by just typing “I am possibly racist.”
September 22, 2024 @ 1:16 pm
OK, I was expecting this kind of thing.
The Hip-hop community is spreading poison in the minds of Black America, period. The misogyny, drug messaging and violence being glorified is toxic.
Is Sexyy Red or Megan Thee Stallion ‘authentically black”? Is Diddy ‘authentically black”? Are they role models? These are questions I ask sincerely.
I’ve bought tons of music over the decades from Black artists. In fact, at this moment I’m wearing a t-shirt with the images from the front and back cover of Miles Davis’ Tutu album which won the Grammy for best album package the year it was released. I actually wore that shirt to church this morning – most of the folks t the Baptist church I attend dress casually.
“Black” does not automatically mean degenerate. The motto of Motown Records was “The sound of young America” even though the artists were all Black. Berry Gordy was a capitalist, not a separatist.
Your so-called comment shows you to be an unserious person, as many anonymous online commenters are.
BTW, I have had more than a few heavy cannabis users in my life who are lily white and are very impaired by it, and I’ve had to just shut them out of my life because they are a total drain on my psyche. Interestingly enough, they tend to be into Hip-hop music and culture as well. If noticing that makes me a racist, then I’m a racist.
September 22, 2024 @ 1:18 pm
““Black” does not automatically mean degenerate.”
Well it’s good that we can at least establish that.
September 22, 2024 @ 4:53 pm
““Black” does not automatically mean degenerate.”
Actually, that’s a racist dog whistle – like everything else with a subject, verb and a predicate that I’ve ever uttered aloud…
September 23, 2024 @ 6:24 am
I love this site for the plethora of album reviews and spotlights that Trigger shines on new and exciting artist . I look forward to the updates on a daily basis but the comment section however time and time again turns dark and ugly very quickly. To blame a entire genre on all of society’s ills reminds a lot of Tipper Gore in the 80s. Hip hop is totally responsible for todays cannabis use? Was Ray Price listening to Snoop when he got arrested for possession ? Ask a Veteran what they would prefer for their pain management and anxiety issues. And do you even listen to Miles ? Have you read his book ? Do you know his story? I can tell you he is self-admittedly done a lot more sinister stuff than the artist your mentioning in your post. We all love this music and its not too many sites that even bother with a comment section anymore due to post that continuously distract from the topic at hand. I personally would prefer a bluegrass showcase for the Super Bowl.
September 23, 2024 @ 1:31 pm
Now we’re getting into the weeds here, which I expected.
Hip hop is totally responsible for todays cannabis use?
No, but Hip Hop is a big influence on youth of all races and cannabis is a big part of that culture. And, yes, I know that country acts have use and continue to use. Outside of country, even Dionne Warwick got pinched for possession once.
And do you even listen to Miles ? Have you read his book ? Do you know his story?
Yes and the book written by the co-author of his autobiography, Quincy Troup called Miles and Me. His story is dark with a lot of drug abuse, pimping, et al. I do listen to Miles although I’m not conversant with every facet of his career musically. Miles was a genius who did a lot of bad shit, as was Ray Charles.
As to vets and cannabis; I’ve looked at credible research from credible people about pyschedelics for PTSD and it should probably be used more for this.
I don’t usually go down these rabbit holes here on things like this. However, my comment is relevant. Sports leagues partner up with this degenerate stuff to “grow the game”, or so they say. More people like me are saying no the product as a result. Just give us the game and some salient analysis and forget the other crap. Give us a talented artist to sing the National Anthem that everyone stands for and lest the best team or athlete win.
September 28, 2024 @ 4:14 am
The mysogony, drug and alcohol abuse and violence in country music is probably okay because it’s white mysogony, drug and alcohol abuse and violence…
September 22, 2024 @ 6:13 pm
“The word ‘racism’ is like ketchup. It can be put on practically anything – and demanding evidence makes you a ‘racist.'”
Thomas Sowell
September 23, 2024 @ 8:32 am
Dr, Sowell is a national treasure.
September 23, 2024 @ 9:22 am
In a smarter America, he would be mandatory reading in schools.
September 27, 2024 @ 9:14 pm
Exactly that, and nothing more
September 24, 2024 @ 8:21 am
Theres only been rap in 21 and this year, just say u racist
September 21, 2024 @ 12:44 pm
Kendrick Lamar is by far the best hip hop act on planet and arguably the best musician out.
If it’s not country music, glad it’s him
September 21, 2024 @ 1:35 pm
The SB half-time show should have an Air Force flyover, an award to a local car dealer in a plaid sport jacket and a toupée, who raised money for charity, and a youth Punt, Pass and Kick competition. I want a half-time show that Vince Lombardi would have recognized.This extended halftime and concert crap really makes a mockery of the game. From A championship game should be played under the same rules as any regulation game, just with more on the line.
September 23, 2024 @ 1:12 am
and i thought i was alone…
September 21, 2024 @ 2:20 pm
We do usually get the national anthem for the most part I think with some wonderful renditions in recent years. Stapleton, Mickey Guyton off top of my head. Something to be said for that.
September 21, 2024 @ 2:22 pm
Country music isn’t made for football stadiums (a good thing). And if they did do a country music halftime I’m sure they’d have either/both Garth and Shania make an appearance, in part to appeal to olds and women, respectively (I’d give this one a meh).
I think it’s great that country music is booming, but also that often if not always comes with a heavy downside. I don’t want country to be as niche as, say, jazz, but the middle ground where acts I like can make a good living (both financially and creatively) as professional musicians is my personal sweet spot.
September 21, 2024 @ 2:47 pm
I hardly watch the game let alone the halftime show anymore. The commercials used to be good enough to warrant watching but not so anymore and you can see them online now anyway. Im not big into rap or the so called pop music anymore so its all just a boor. Last one i really liked was paul mccartney. Only.non country act i would care to see woild be green day but i dont see that happening. A billy strings, charlie crockett, sierra ferrell and even your boy zack bryan would be an intetesting show but i dont see jz doing that.
September 21, 2024 @ 2:54 pm
“Sidelining discussions about Morgan Wallen for a second (though he is the 2nd most popular artists in music behind Taylor Swift)”
You should correct that to say something like “North American music.” I assure you he’s nowhere near being 2nd in Europe. I wonder if he’d make the top 100. You’ve got readers all over the world, Trig, you should take them into account 😉
September 21, 2024 @ 3:40 pm
Euro South,
Please take no offense.
I will grant you Celtic music was a MAJOR influence on Country music. Yessir. No argument. To this day I also like Celtic and Irish music too. That said, not being mean, but in The US, we pay zero attention to European country charts. Zero. My travels to the UK led me to some interesting conclusions. Yes, Brits like Country music to some degree, but most are largely unfamiliar with our scene, and more specifically lack any knowledge of 70s through today’s chart and radio hits, aside from the huge names. I have met Brits and Irish guys and a few from Sweden that LOVE 60s era Country. See Country Side of Harmonica Sam for example. Those cats are deeply immersed in Webb Pierce and Tubb and Ray Price and the like, but mention Larry Gatlin or Travis Tritt and they haven’t a clue. I have noticed the Americana acts are touring overseas, and it’s not uncommon to find a UK fan of Isbell or Carlisle, but again the mainstream country acts of the last 30 years, ehhh not so much.
That’s my take anyway, and pretty sure a lot of American fans would agree. We could go super deep and discuss the rural , and western culture here that made the music what it is, and how that culture is uniquely American, but I will spare you.
September 21, 2024 @ 3:51 pm
Kevin, no offence, and I hope you won’t be offended if I say I think you misunderstood. I think Trig meant all of music, not just country music. If indeed he meant the latter, then I stand corrected but would suggest the text be corrected to “2nd most popular artist in country music.” Never would I dream to suggest that Americans should pay attention to European country charts, I’m actually not even aware such a thing exists and certainly pay it no mind myself 🙂
September 21, 2024 @ 4:47 pm
I’m often jealous when I see singers of modest commercial success in the US tour Europe, especially the UK.
I’ve heard it say that in Europe, or at least France, once you are a star, be it movie or musical or whatever, you are forever a star, while US is more fickle. I’m sure also geography and infrastructure has a lot to do with it too.
September 23, 2024 @ 1:14 am
it’s true. just ask Toto…who i revere, btw.
September 21, 2024 @ 4:14 pm
The Super Bowl doesn’t really appeal to anyone outside of the United States either, so that was the context that quote was offered in.
I get your point though. I appreciate my international audience.
September 23, 2024 @ 1:17 am
then why does the nfl keep playing regular season games in europe (london), south america (brazil) and mexico? i think the super bowl has plenty of international appeal. i could be wrong though…
September 23, 2024 @ 6:27 am
I think they’re trying to create the appeal for football in other countries, kind of like what soccer (what everyone else calls “football”) enjoys internationally. But I’m no expert here. I’m just saying the Super Bowl is a massive deal in the United States, not so much internationally.
This comment thread continues to take weird turns. I think it’s quite remarkable that country music hasn’t been highlighted in the halftime show in 31 years. That feels like a freak anomaly that a website founded to advocate for country music should probably point out.
September 24, 2024 @ 9:58 am
they have stages/music everywhere that weekend. look for some of the top names playing outside at the “super bowl experience” or whatever they call it. gretchen wilson did it when she was the hottest thing in music, period. not just country.
i have played that type of thing on a much lower level, and a few rungs up from that as well. i did the victory party for the patriots years ago (they beat the eagles, whatever year that was). no one came. again, period. they cut us off, and we ended up across the hall at the REAL party. the black eyed peas opened for snoop. lots of weed in the air.
at one point i was between teddy bruschi(?- linebacker) and bob kraft (owner), “raising the roof”. did not see that coming at all.
there will be some “country” somewhere…
September 23, 2024 @ 10:14 am
we european country fans are rare like white mosquitos. i just don’t understand american football but i love my Travis Tritt!!
September 23, 2024 @ 12:34 pm
: D Get it, Daniele …
September 22, 2024 @ 5:12 am
Hi. A lot of Americana/folk/songwriter artists I like have made the charts overseas. Too cool.
September 21, 2024 @ 3:20 pm
Haven’t you heard? Demographics is destiny!
September 21, 2024 @ 3:33 pm
Tyler would be a good candidate ,he supports BLM, and said KY Game Wardens will shoot you for getting your fishing license out of your tackle box ,listen to his Rolling Stone interview, what a dick..
September 21, 2024 @ 5:59 pm
One of the stars in that pic there is a RAPPER lmao he had to come help
September 22, 2024 @ 4:05 am
Heavy Metal and country music are the most disrespected genres of music imo. A country music showcase would be awesome but honestly the superbowl gig is a weird show in itself. 15 minutes tops (if that) where the artist attempts to shove 5-7 songs in that time slot. It’s essentially a circus act. I think country music deserves the slot but I don’t know what it will look like . Would you prefer a legacy act or something similar to the 90s showcase ?
September 22, 2024 @ 4:39 am
You hit the nail on the head with “Since race was a big part of the calculus in the NFL collaborating with Jay-Z”.
Not big part. ONLY part. That’s what everything is about now. I echo Todd Peterson from above.
Very sad. 12% of the population, and all this.
September 24, 2024 @ 3:28 pm
What’s the percentage for the players, that everyone is making money off ( owners, advertisers, brands,local economy etc)?
September 22, 2024 @ 5:12 am
Carrie Underwood is the likely choice for the next country act. Plus, she’s already “in” with the NFL and the Champion debuted during the Super Bowl.
September 22, 2024 @ 6:12 am
The NFL signed Jay Z to oversee the halftime shows as part of their attempt to go woke and relieve the negative press from the players kneeling during the National Anthem. Jay Z, slogans on the fields and uniforms, and playing the black national anthem were all part of the agreement with the players.
People can complain every season about no other genres of music getting to play halftime at the Super Bowl, but they might as well just accept that as long as Jay Z is in charge he will continue to roll out and rehash his own affiliated artists that will profit him.
September 22, 2024 @ 6:37 am
The Super Bowl halftime show is about ratings. They don’t need to appeal to people already watching the game – they need to pull in viewers who otherwise wouldn’t be watching. We can all sit around and complain that the music is to “woke” or too “hip hop” but ratings don’t lie. If people weren’t tuning in, the NFL would have cut ties with Jay Z long ago. Rihanna’s 2023 performance was the most watched half time in history. Usher also drew a huge audience last year. From the NFL’s perspective, nothing is broken so there is nothing to fix.
September 22, 2024 @ 6:47 am
“Football” barely involves feet and doesn’t use a ball. Hand-egg is the more appropriate name. It’s also a brutal sport that destroys brains and bodies. Plus the Super Bowl halftime show is always lame. Country music should get in on the ground floor with soccer — the real football — which is growing in popularity in the United States.
September 23, 2024 @ 10:40 am
that would finally make country music very popupar here in Italy!!! Too bad football doesn’t have an halftime show.
September 22, 2024 @ 7:29 am
Who cares?
Country music doesn’t need to chase popularity. That’s what dooms the genre.
September 22, 2024 @ 7:57 am
I miss the Beavis and Butthead halftime show…. Was a great alternative…
September 22, 2024 @ 8:18 am
Not a fan of the NFL, while it would be great to see country music showcased, it is no loss for me. I will stick to Daytona as my Super Bowl.
September 28, 2024 @ 10:54 pm
I’m not a NASCAR fan, but the years I’ve watched the Daytona 500, I’ve enjoyed the “event commercials” as much or more than those for the Super Bowl.
September 22, 2024 @ 8:37 am
Springsteen is still the torch bearer when it comes to SB Halftime shows.
September 23, 2024 @ 5:39 pm
I remember seeing it and thinking “Wow. After all these years, “Glory Days” is still in the setlist”.
September 22, 2024 @ 3:56 pm
How about Hank Jr. and Skynyrd, Why is it always some no talent who will only be around for a few years.
September 23, 2024 @ 6:07 pm
How ’bout Caruso and Louis Armstrong.
They have something in common with “Skynyrd”–They’re dead.
September 24, 2024 @ 6:00 am
Skynyrd is on tour right now with Z Z Top. Even though all the original members have passed away they still put on a better show then any act touring right now. So do your homework before making a comment.
September 23, 2024 @ 1:19 am
some would say prince, but i’m with you.
September 23, 2024 @ 1:20 am
that was for dawg fan.
September 23, 2024 @ 7:36 am
I am a hip/hop rap fan.(NWA, UGK, Project Pat) I do get tired of those genres monopolizing the SB show. They need to get rid of Jay. *Term limits, lol, new people run Half Time show every few years.
September 23, 2024 @ 9:52 am
You’ve made the case why country music deserves a half time show
But not the case why that’s a ‘good thing’
Maybe I am the curmudgeonly stick in the mud fgl and Blake Shelton think I am, but pardon my implicit prejudice or conservativism when I say not one thing has ever gotten better by appealing to more people
And country music was no exception.
Not one franchise, IP, or institution has ever gotten better by allowing new fans to jump into the deep end
Fire emblem? Ruined.
Star Wars? Ruined
And star wars is the best country music comparison because it actually does abandon its history to appeal to new fans
There was an entire media scandal about it.
And new Star Wars fans (some of them) won’t even read the heir to the empire trilogy.
And if you don’t want to read one of the most seminal, significant and influential contributions to star wars lore, you shouldn’t be making decisions about the franchise.
Same with country music, jazz, and any other genre.
A basic prerequisite of understanding and appreciation of what made that franchise, genre or institution unique should be a requirement before someone is taken seriously on issues concerning the afore mentioned
And putting country music on that stage will benefit one artist, or two, or however many artists appear in the ‘you may like’ window
But will in benefit the genre?
Of course not.
We hear all the time ‘gateway artist’ this, or ‘starting point that’
But that has proven untrue, it was never true and never will be true.
And anyone who thinks that by hearing Zach Bryan someone will discover George Jones, or Merle haggard, or Keith Whitley, needs to have their cognitive functions examined. Because it’s a ludicrous preposition to suggest that by flooding the markets with new fans who bring no respect understanding or experience with the genre there will somehow be anything other than what has already happened to everything from star wars to Pokémon to lord of the rings, to sonic the hedgehog
A gradual decrease in quality as the IP creates more material for more fans who lack history of the material and won’t demand adherence to the lore and institutions BY creators with no ties to the material who got hired because the IP needs to crank out material to meet increased demand
And if the bro country years didn’t convince enough people than the best way to protect country music as an institution is to keep outside influences out and keep the existing institutions from becoming too well known and drawing unwanted attention then we have a very different opinion about what’s good for country music
In other words: who benefits from country music getting a halftime show? The artist? The other artists most likely to appear in the ‘you may also like?’
Country music never needed to be on letterman, it never needed to be in rolling stone
Country music had its own programming. Porter wagoner, for one, Stan Hitchcock, for another, pop goes the country with Ralph emery and briefly Tom t hall, for a third.
Country music had its own magazine.
And I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the best years of country music were the years when country music wasn’t trying to edge out pop performers in pop spaces.
We don’t like it when outside artists barge in to our country music space.
Can you imagine miles Davis on the porter wagoner show?
Country music doesn’t need more dog and pony show sports event media coverage
In fact, that’s been proven to be detrimental
And if proving that country music is the equal of the other genres is the goal, the fight is already lost because no one has ever come out looking good by going in and trying to prove themselves on someone else’s turf.
Country music was the equal of the other genres when it wasn’t trying to one up them, or compete with them.
September 23, 2024 @ 10:19 am
It’s pretty simple logic to me.
The Super Bowl halftime is the largest television audience in North America all year.
Country music has only been featured on it once since it was a major production in 35 years.
It’s been 30 years since country music was featured on the Super Bowl halftime.
Country music is currently the most popular genre in music.
As an advocate for country music, it would seem like an irresponsibility to not point all of this out.
Does country music needs the validation of the Super Bowl halftime? Of course not. Will it materially help it as a genre? Maybe or maybe not.
But it does appear there is a gross and inherent bias against it. And it feels like that needs to be challenged.
September 23, 2024 @ 1:22 pm
“Largest television audience”
Something something pearls before swine.
Didn’t the bro country years prove that getting inundated with casual fans… harms the art in the long run? That is to say, to we really want a bunch of jay-z and Kendrick Lamar fans trying to jay-z up country music?
And technically football isn’t even a country music thing. It’s always been more of a pop thing outside of Hank Williams jr
Baseball is the country music thing. In fact the ‘baseball injury to country star’ career track is so common it borders on being a stereotype
And let’s say there’s a bias against country music on the Super Bowl…
Is that bad? I mean, we can’t complain about pop stars in our space then expect pop stars to give us their spaces in good faith
That’s… bad right?
And frankly the half time show isn’t about musicianship it’s about fireworks smoke machines and Bombast
If Michael Cleveland got up there and did orange blossom special it would be really out of place. You can’t look at his legs and tell me they’d look good in a leotard or tights
It’s well known that those performances are lip synced, anyway. So exactly what would be the point of having a top tier country star on that stage except… representation?
Id love to engage with the premise that ‘country music deserves a half time show’
But what exactly would a country music half time show look like that would set it apart from a pop half time show without being…. A bad fit?
And what exactly would the ramifications of that one be?
I feel like a pre race performance by a country star at a nascar event would be more… cognitively coherent.
It feels like an issue of semantics.
Obviously Diana Krall doesn’t belong on a halftime stage, I don’t see why Dwight yoakam or Vince gill would be any less out of place
“Country music is the biggest genre right now”
Is it though? I don’t really think it’s a factual statement that zach Bryan has more fans than jay-z… or that the success of a couple breakout artists means the entire genre is huge
The o brother where art thou soundtrack was huge
But it was one record that went global, not bluegrass as a genre. Ralph Stanley wasn’t suddenly going to play the Super Bowl because of that album. Neither was Alison Krauss
They all saw sales bumps because of that album, bluegrass as a genre had a boom time, but no singular artist deserved to be on the Super Bowl then nor now
A rising tide may float all boats but not all boats are the queen Mary.
A couple big artists are skewing the data (Zach Bryan and Morgan wallen)
In fact besides those two huge names I wonder how many country artists would go over well at the Super Bowl on name recognition alone, and also wouldn’t be weirdly out of place ( George strait at a half time show? About as fitting as a toenail in your potato salad)
Morgan wallen and Zach Bryan are big, sure, but you can’t use their bigness to say Charlie Crockett should do a halftime show.
Those are two massive artists who are succeeding but not representative of the name recognition of every artist in the genre.
Maybe zach Bryan deserves a Super Bowl show because he’s famous, but country music doesn’t deserve one because Zach Bryan is famous
And I’m still not sure why a this largest television audience is expected to take a country performance at face value in good faith when we’ve already established that they’re used to and expecting a noisy flashy pop show?
Let’s just assume country music gets its halftime show, and that the artist is an actual country artist properly representing the genre
Now convince me the audience will be able to appreciate it
September 23, 2024 @ 3:30 pm
“Baseball is the country music thing.”
Not true in the slightest.
September 23, 2024 @ 4:06 pm
As a matter of record, Di, the link between former baseball players and country music careers begins with two of the genres earliest and most foundational stars, gene autry and Roy acuff, to be precise.
From there we find former baseball players becoming stars in nearly every country era, including such country all stars as Charley pride, Jim reeves (signed to the cardinals) and Tim McGraw (son of tug McGraw) and even Garth Brooks!!
In the modern era, Scotty mcreery and Morgan wallen are both former baseball players, as are Jason Aldean, Brett young and others.
The connection between baseball and country music is uniquely constant for an entire century and to say otherwise Is incorrect
September 27, 2024 @ 9:48 pm
The best reply to this comment is here.
September 23, 2024 @ 1:10 pm
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Zach Bryan do it in the next 3-4 years. Country is both popular and niche at the same time. Out here in the Bay Area, I could ask 10 people who Morgan Wallen was and would expect only one person to know despite being the 2nd most popular musician in America.
Zach Bryan has appeal beyond the Country scene in a way that Morgan Wallen and Lainey Wilson don’t. He’s liked by both Country and Rock/Pop fans alike.
September 23, 2024 @ 4:07 pm
Legend Charlie Daniels played In a super bowl show with Gretchen Wilson & Black Eyed Peas. Charlie ate their asses up . Lol
September 23, 2024 @ 9:13 pm
Who knows,I may write a Country song and be the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show.
Anyway,one wonders if the lack of Country acts at Super Bowl halftime is because in a basically two-thirds black league,Country’s image,which has never been overly progressive,has taken an even bigger hit because its gatekeepers haven’t truly opened the genre to EVERYBODY and in 2023 had a rather regressive image problem with two of its hits. Perhaps a Country/rap or Country/R&B duet would bring in a diverse audience and would likely be uncontroversial.
September 24, 2024 @ 8:34 am
Its obviously a skin color problem with yall, for one ur still not as popular as pop music, secondly since 2019 there have only been 2 hip hop halftime shows….the first people tht performed were Shakira and J Lo, yall just feel entitled to everything, it’s crazy how white folks can never see when its unfair to everyone else but expect someone to care when it happens to them, thts not how it works, nothing u even said was accurate, it hasn’t been all hip hop and Jay Z doesn’t make the final decision, like yall genre isnt just an appropriation of blues? So it’s not about the music, its about the people that are rappers, how many of yall pasty events were our artists invited to? Oh ok stfu
September 24, 2024 @ 9:21 am
As far as I’m concerned, I don’t care.
Most of the music branded as “country” today has far more in common with dreadful hip-hop or bad 80’s rock than what I consider country music. To me, having one of “today’s country” acts as a half-time show would not be much of an improvement from the horrible hip-hop nonsense although there would be less profanity and ridiculous crotch-grabbing antics.
For years now I have found that the “mute” button or flipping to another channel is the best antidote to the NFL’s deplorable half-time debacle. Too bad that a cable channel doesn’t offer a “Half-Time Alternative Show” devoid of any of the hip-hop crap that would instead feature performances by artists with true musical talent that have more mainstream appeal. Seems that there is a huge potential audience for that.
September 25, 2024 @ 5:52 pm
There is the Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet which is more entertaining than the Super Bowl, even during half time where they have kitties.
September 26, 2024 @ 6:41 am
Well,Demetrius,you’re on the right track with your post though you can’t spell. I think having George Strait and/or Dolly Parton as the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show would be its biggest even,drawing Country and non-Country fans,especially for Dolly.
September 26, 2024 @ 7:50 am
Does Dolly Parton do stadium concerts? Get real.
September 26, 2024 @ 1:16 pm
Dolly did the half-time show last Thanksgiving at AT & T Stadium.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFE6SNXoZuE
September 27, 2024 @ 6:29 am
So Dolly CAN do the Super Bowl LIX halftime show,Luckyoldsun !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 27, 2024 @ 6:30 am
And find Ricky Van Shelton for Super Bowl LX !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!