Justin Timberlake paid tribute to Prince by performing with a visual of the late singer during his Super Bowl Halftime Show at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Sunday (04Feb18).
The Suit and Tie hitmaker was welcomed to the stage by his friend talk show host Jimmy Fallon and opened his set with his new song Filthy underneath the stadium before making his way across the field while singing Rock Your Body. After taking the stage, he got the crowd going with SexyBack before transitioning into My Love and then a rousing rendition of Cry Me a River with a dance break.
Timberlake was then joined by a full band to sing Suit and Tie before sitting down at a white piano to perform End of Time and surprise viewers with a large visual projected on a screen to show Prince performing I Would Die 4 U.
“Minneapolis this is for you,” he said to the crowd. “Put your hands in the air for Prince tonight.”
After his Prince tribute, the singer walked across the field to sing Mirrors. He then entered into the stadium seats to kick off his closing song Can’t Stop the Feeling! with the audience, while dancers lit up the field with bright lights.
Earlier this week (ends04Feb18), it was rumored Justin would perform with a Prince hologram, but the late singer’s former protege Sheila E. assured fans he wouldn’t use one.
Family, I spoke w/Justin 2nite and he shared heartfelt words of respect for Prince & the Purple fans. I look 4wrd 2 seeing what I’m sure is going 2 be a spectacular halftime show. There is no hologram. 🙏🏽💋 pic.twitter.com/mhVXBfBa1B
— SheilaEdrummer (@SheilaEdrummer) February 4, 2018
“Family, I spoke w/Justin 2nite (tonight) and he shared heartfelt words of respect for Prince & the Purple fans,” she wrote on Twitter. “I look 4wrd (forward) 2 seeing what I’m sure is going 2 be a spectacular halftime show. There is no hologram.”
Meanwhile, Pink battled the flu to deliver an emotional performance of the National Anthem at the beginning of the game.
On Saturday (03Feb18), the Pennsylvania native sparked concerns she wouldn’t be able to sing because she is sick.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BeumRbrFIWj/?hl=en&taken-by=pink
“Trying to practice the flu away. I’ve been waiting to sing this song since 1991 when I saw my idol, Whitney Houston, own this song. And now, my chance has finally come,” she wrote on Instagram.
However, the singer gave a powerful performance clad in a silver jacket and army fatigue-patterned shirt with white pants.
The New England Patriots are facing off with the Philadelphia Eagles for the NFL championship title, with the Eagles leading the Patriots 29 to 19.
