Prince Super Bowl Halftime Show 2007: The Greatest Performance Ever

On February 4, 2007, at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, Florida, Prince delivered what is widely considered the greatest Super Bowl halftime show of all time. The performance — which included a dramatic moment when it began to rain and Prince simply kept playing, becoming a literal force of nature on stage — has been cited as the gold standard for every halftime show since.

The Setup

Prince's selection for Super Bowl XLI's halftime show was met with some skepticism — Prince was a legendary but somewhat reclusive artist who had not performed at a major public event in years. NFL executives reportedly expected pushback; instead, they got magic. Prince showed up not just prepared but inspired.

The Setlist

Prince opened with "Let's Go Crazy," transitioning through "Baby I'm a Star" before launching into a medley that included covers of "Proud Mary" (Tina Turner), "All Along the Watchtower" (Bob Dylan/Jimi Hendrix), and "Best of You" (Foo Fighters) — an unexpected cover that garnered enormous response. He closed with "Purple Rain" as it actually rained on the stage, creating one of the most dramatic visual moments in entertainment history.

The Rain

It began to rain during "Purple Rain." Rather than stopping or being fazed, Prince played on. His silhouette, backlit behind a massive sheet serving as a stage backdrop, cast a dramatic shadow — an image that became one of the most iconic in Super Bowl history. The moment was spontaneous and unrepeatable. Prince later said of the rain: "Can you make it rain harder?"

Why It Is Considered the Greatest

Critics and fans consistently rank Prince 2007 as the best halftime show for several reasons: the setlist was perfect (deep catalog mixed with universally known covers), the production was visually arresting, the rain created an unscripted magical moment, and Prince's performance — guitar playing, vocals, and stage presence — was unimpeachable. No other artist has combined technical mastery with showmanship at that level at the Super Bowl.

Legacy

Prince's halftime show set the template for the modern era. Every performer since 2007 has been compared to Prince's standard. For complete rankings of every halftime show, see our guide to the best Super Bowl halftime shows. For the full Super Bowl halftime show history, visit our hub page.