Maroon 5, Travis Scott and Big Boi will take the stage in the middle of the big game!
Super Bowl LIII is almost here!
We're less than a week away from seeing the Los Angeles Rams take on the New England Patriots in Atlanta, Georgia, but, for many fans, the reason to tune in has little to do with football and is instead all about Pepsi's halftime show. Ahead of the Super Bowl on CBS and the highly anticipated concert, ET has everything you need to know about this year's halftime performance.
When Is the Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show?: Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 3. Prior to the start, Gladys Knight will perform the National Anthem and Chloe x Halle will sing "America the Beautiful." The game is split into 15 minute quarters, with the halftime performance falling after the first two.
ET's Coverage: You can keep up with all of ET's coverage of Super Bowl LIII right here at ETonline.com, as well as on Twitter, Instagram and our Facebook page.
Where to Watch: The game, which is being held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, will be televised on CBS and streamed for free on CBSSports.com and the CBS Sports app. CBS All Access will also stream the game.
Who Is Performing?: Maroon 5, led by frontman Adam Levine, was picked to helm this year's show. The band was rumored to be the pick as far back as September, but wasn't officially confirmed until Jan. 13. Maroon 5 will be joined by Travis Scott -- whose involvement was rumored back in December. Atlanta native and Outkast rapper Big Boi will also be performing.
What Is the Controversy Surrounding the Performance?: Super Bowl LIII has been marred in controversy since conversations began, largely due to the NFL's handling of peaceful protests from former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The former football star became a political icon after he took a knee during the National Anthem in protest of police brutality. Many believe that the silent statement led the league to effectively bar Kaepernick from the NFL.
Due to the situation, artists including Rihanna and Pink reportedly turned down the chance to headline the show. In October, a source told ET that "Rihanna was the frontrunner."
"CBS and the NFL reached out to Rihanna first, who after thinking about the offer, decided to pass due to the NFL and the situation regarding players kneeling," the source said. "The offer and exposure would have been great for Rihanna as she’s planning a new album and tour but she stuck to what’s right in her eyes."
A second source confirmed Pink's offer, revealing that the singer -- who performed the National Anthem at year's game -- saw the negotiations surrounding her performance stall out, though Kaepernick wasn't mentioned in the discussions.
Before he was officially confirmed in the gig, Levine told Ellen DeGeneres, "If it were me, I'd be excited. I'd be nervous."
Once Maroon 5, Travis Scott and Big Boi were confirmed, they all faced social media backlash for accepting the job. According to a Variety report, Scott agreed to perform after he announced that he, along with the NFL, would donate $500,000 to Dream Corps, a non-profit social justice organization. According to Variety, Scott and Kaepernick "had at least one phone conversation" before Scott accepted the job. "While the two did not necessarily agree, they emerged from the conversation with mutual respect and understanding," the report said.
Nessa, Kaepernick's girlfriend, denied the Variety report, writing on Twitter: "There is NO mutual respect and there is NO understanding for anyone working against @Kaepernick7 PERIOD. #stoplying"
Kaepernick retweeted Nessa's message.
Watch the video below for more on this year's halftime show:
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