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7 Shocking Secrets And The Full Setlist Of Lady Gaga's Super Bowl LI Halftime Show

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As of late 2025, Lady Gaga's Super Bowl LI Halftime Show remains one of the most talked-about and technically complex performances in the event's history. Staged on February 5, 2017, at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, the show was a defining moment for the pop superstar, featuring a daring rooftop jump, a powerful political message of unity, and the first-ever use of synchronized drone technology in a live Super Bowl performance. This in-depth look explores the records broken, the technical marvels, and the complete setlist that cemented this performance's legendary status. The 2017 performance was particularly significant because Lady Gaga was the first solo female headliner since 2010 and delivered a high-octane, 13-minute spectacle without any special guests, proving her status as a singular force in global entertainment. The sheer ambition of the production, from the opening sequence on the stadium roof to the final descent, required months of planning and coordination between the NFL, Pepsi Zero Sugar, and a massive technical crew.

Lady Gaga: The Superstar Behind The Super Bowl LI Halftime Show

Lady Gaga, born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, is a global icon whose career is defined by musical versatility, theatrical performances, and advocacy for social causes. Her selection as the headliner for Super Bowl LI was a natural culmination of her success, following her critically acclaimed performance of the National Anthem at Super Bowl 50 the previous year.

  • Full Name: Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta
  • Born: March 28, 1986 (Age 39 as of late 2025)
  • Origin: New York City, New York, U.S.
  • Key Albums at the Time: The Fame, The Fame Monster, Born This Way, ARTPOP, Joanne (the album she was promoting at the time)
  • Key Achievements (Pre-2017): Multiple Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and a successful acting career beginning to take shape.
  • Super Bowl Performance Date: February 5, 2017 (Super Bowl LI)
  • Venue: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
  • Unique Distinction: First solo headliner since 2010 and first solo female headliner since the 2004 show.

The Record-Breaking Impact and Viewership Phenomenon

Lady Gaga's 2017 performance was not just a critical success; it was a commercial and viewership juggernaut that shattered previous records. The show’s timing, following a politically charged period in the United States, gave her performance an added layer of cultural significance, which resonated with a massive global audience.

The performance was an immediate ratings winner. At the time of its broadcast, the Super Bowl LI Halftime Show became the most-watched musical event in Super Bowl history across all platforms, including broadcast and digital streams. The sheer number of tuned-in viewers solidified its place in pop culture history.

  • Total Viewership: The performance garnered an astonishing 117.5 million viewers on the FOX broadcast alone.
  • Digital Record: It was the most-watched musical event of all-time across all platforms at that time, demonstrating the growing power of digital viewership.
  • Post-Show Sales Spike: Following the performance, Lady Gaga saw a massive surge in music sales. Her digital song sales increased by over 1,000% immediately after the show, with over 150,000 digital albums and songs sold in the U.S. that day.
  • The Solo Act: By choosing to perform without any special guests, unlike many of her predecessors, Gaga’s performance was a pure showcase of her own catalog and stage presence, a rarity in modern Super Bowl Halftime Shows.

The show's success was also recognized by the television industry. The production received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Variety Series Or Special in 2017, a testament to the technical precision required for such a complex, live performance.

The Technical Marvel: Drones, Wires, and The Iconic Jump

What truly sets the Super Bowl LI Halftime Show apart is its groundbreaking use of technology, which pushed the boundaries of live entertainment. The production was a logistical and technical masterpiece, involving a massive team from All Access Staging & Productions and Intel.

1. The Intel Shooting Star Drone Light Show

The opening sequence, where Lady Gaga appeared on the roof of NRG Stadium, featured the most significant technical advancement: the first-ever use of a large-scale drone light show at the Super Bowl.

  • The Technology: 300 Intel Shooting Star drones were used to form a shimmering, illuminated American flag and the Pepsi logo in the night sky.
  • The Trick: Due to strict FAA regulations prohibiting drone flights over or near the stadium during the game, the drone sequence was pre-recorded. It was filmed earlier in the week and seamlessly integrated into the live broadcast, giving the illusion that the drones were flying live above the stadium during the performance.

2. The Daring Rooftop Entrance

The performance began with Gaga singing a medley of "God Bless America" and "This Land Is Your Land" from the roof, followed by a dramatic "jump" into the stadium. This iconic moment was suggested by her sister, Natali Germanotta, and required extensive technical planning.

The jump was executed using a complex wire harness system, allowing her to safely descend to the main stage in the center of the field. The combination of the high-flying theatrics and the intricate wirework made the opening a viral sensation and a benchmark for future halftime shows.

3. The Quick-Change Stage and Lighting

The stage itself, created by All Access Staging & Productions, was a complex, multi-tiered structure that was brought onto the field in minutes. The lighting design, using high-powered fixtures from companies like Ayrton, was crucial in transitioning the mood between her high-energy dance hits and the more intimate, piano-driven ballad.

Lady Gaga's Complete Super Bowl LI Halftime Show Setlist

The 13-minute show was a masterclass in condensing a decade of hits into a seamless, high-impact performance. The setlist was carefully curated to balance her biggest dance anthems with the more personal, stripped-down tracks from her then-current album, Joanne.

Here is the full, confirmed setlist for the Pepsi Zero Sugar Super Bowl LI Halftime Show:

  1. "God Bless America" / "This Land Is Your Land" (Medley)

    The powerful opening, sung from the roof, was a clear message of unity and inclusion, a subtle but undeniable political statement.

  2. "Poker Face"

    The song that launched her global career, performed during her descent into the stadium, setting a high-energy tone.

  3. "Born This Way"

    A powerful anthem of self-acceptance and LGBTQ+ rights, delivered with maximum conviction in the center of the field.

  4. "Telephone"

    The high-energy dance track, notably performed without her original collaborator, Beyoncé, despite heavy pre-show rumors.

  5. "Just Dance"

    Another massive hit from her debut album, keeping the energy levels soaring as the dancers filled the field.

  6. "Million Reasons"

    The emotional centerpiece of the show. Gaga sat at the piano, dedicated the song to her family, and delivered a raw, vocal performance, showcasing her artistry beyond the theatrics. This song was from her album 'Joanne'.

  7. "Bad Romance"

    The grand finale. The show closed with this iconic anthem, complete with a keytar, pyrotechnics, and the dramatic drop of the microphone as she caught a football and jumped off the stage, disappearing into the tunnel.

The performance is a lasting testament to Lady Gaga's showmanship and the incredible logistical coordination required to pull off the world's biggest 13-minute concert. It not only broke viewership records at the time but also set a new standard for the integration of cutting-edge technology, like the Intel Shooting Star drones, into live stadium events. Years later, the Super Bowl LI Halftime Show remains a cultural touchstone, often cited as one of the greatest and most memorable performances in the history of the Super Bowl.

7 Shocking Secrets and The Full Setlist of Lady Gaga's Super Bowl LI Halftime Show
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