Nashville landing the Super Bowl in 2030 poses one big question: Will country music finally take over halftime again?
And if Eric Church has anything to say about it, the answer sounds pretty clear.
Just days after it was officially announced that Nashville will host Super Bowl LXIV, the country superstar made it known that he has one major priority for the event — making sure country music has a major presence on one of the biggest stages in the world.
Eric Church Has One Big Demand for Nashville’s Super Bowl
Church, who served on the committee that helped bring the Super Bowl to Nashville, spoke with FOX Nashville following the announcement and made it clear he plans to push hard for country music to play a major role in the halftime show.
The main thing is, when you come to Music City and you come to Nashville, I’m advocating not for myself, but I’m advocating for country music to have its part in that Super Bowl halftime. So I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that’s involved.
Given Nashville’s identity — and country music’s current dominance across streaming, touring and mainstream crossover success — it’s not exactly a surprising stance.
Country Music Has Been Shut Out for Years
While country artists have appeared in Super Bowl halftime shows over the years, it’s been a long time since the genre truly dominated the stage.
The last all-country halftime show came in 1994, when Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt and The Judds headlined Super Bowl XXVIII.
And the last time a country artist headlined the halftime show came in 2003, when Shania Twain shared the stage with No Doubt.
Read More: Country Artists Who Have Sung the National Anthem
Since 2020, the halftime show has been produced by Jay-Z’s Roc Nation and has largely centered around pop, rap and globally recognized crossover acts.
Nashville’s Super Bowl Could Change Everything
The NFL officially awarded Super Bowl LXIV to Nashville this week, with the game set to be played inside the new Nissan Stadium after it opens in 2027.
Commissioner Roger Goodell called Nashville’s 2019 NFL Draft “one of the greatest fan events in our history,” while praising the city as a premier destination for major events.
With artists like Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs, Ella Langley and Post Malone continuing to blur genre lines and dominate mainstream music conversations, many fans already see Nashville’s Super Bowl as the perfect opportunity for country music to reclaim the halftime spotlight.
15 Country Artists Primed to Headline a Super Bowl Halftime Show
Any way you slice it, country music is long overdue for its time in the spotlight at the Super Bowl. Although several artists have sung the National Anthem at the game, the coveted halftime show has been anything but country for over three decades.
The last time anyone from the genre headlined the performance was in 1994, when Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, Wynonna Judd and Naomi Judd did a medley of their biggest hits. With country music gaining in popularity, there’s no better time than now to put one of our own in the spotlight. Here are 15 artists who are already primed to take on the task.
Gallery Credit: Jess
