News | Entertainment
27 Jan 2026 21:30
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    The Backstreet Boys turned down the chance to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show

    The 'I Want It That Way' hitmakers sang the US National Anthem at the 2001 NFL flagship game in Tampa, Florida, while the mid-game entertainment was provided by *NSYNC, Aerosmith and Britney Spears, but Nick Carter has revealed things could have been very different


    He told 'Entertainment Tonight': "It's interesting because we were presented the opportunity to perform at the halftime at the Super Bowl and it was in Tampa, my home town.

    "At the time we came from the era of, we loved the Whitney Houston rendition of the national anthem. And for us, we got the choice and we passed on the halftime.

    "But it was a memorable experience for everyone. And everyone was able to share [the stage] and *NSYNC did a great job at halftime, and I like to say we did a really good job at the national anthem as well."

    But Nick is still hopeful Backstreet Boys could be offered the gig again in future, and thinks it would be "pretty cool" if they shared the stage with *NSYNC, as was originally planned.

    Referencing the lyrics to 'Shape of My Heart', he said: "Looking back on the things we've done… Would I have switched? I want to do it in the future. I say maybe another halftime when the Bucs go back to the Super Bowl.

    "And that again is going back to the era we came from, the late '90s. It was a really beautiful time and I think everybody wants that again.

    "They want that feeling coming out of this, everything that we have gone through together and society for the past year and a half. We want to be a part of that story, of love and growth and just coming out of the dark."

    Speaking about the 'Bingo Under the Stars' event he and bandmate AJMcLean are hosting with *NSYNC's Lance Bass and Joey Fatone in Los Angeles later this month, he added: "Maybe it's the first of many things to come and, hey, if they want us to do a halftime at the Super Bowl, I'll tell you what, there's only one Backstreet Boys and there's only one *NSYNC, and I think we do pretty well at it."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     27 Jan: Patsy King has died at the age of 95
     27 Jan: Taylor Swift will be the youngest woman to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
     27 Jan: Kristen Bell is to host the Actor Awards for the third time
     27 Jan: Jaden Smith was "shocked and surprised" when he was asked to be Christian Louboutin's first men's creative director
     27 Jan: Michelle Pfeiffer "hated" her iconic Scarface bob
     27 Jan: Phil Collins has admitted years of alcohol abuse left his kidneys "messed up"
     27 Jan: Jennifer Lawrence wants to do-over of her only time hosting Saturday Night Live
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The All Blacks head coaching vacancy came too late for Vern Cotter's consideration More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Australia is turning the spotlight on financial abuse in relationships. What can NZ learn? More...



     Today's News

    Health & Safety:
    The mother of a near full-term stillborn baby says hospital staff caused her irreparable harm 21:17

    Politics:
    Tensions in Minnesota could send the US into another government shutdown — here's why 21:07

    Entertainment:
    Patsy King has died at the age of 95 21:01

    Entertainment:
    Taylor Swift will be the youngest woman to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame 20:31

    Entertainment:
    Kristen Bell is to host the Actor Awards for the third time 20:01

    Entertainment:
    Jaden Smith was "shocked and surprised" when he was asked to be Christian Louboutin's first men's creative director 19:31

    Entertainment:
    Michelle Pfeiffer "hated" her iconic Scarface bob 19:01

    Law and Order:
    The Police Minister's welcoming new senior Police appointments 18:57

    International:
    Three families on how they manage multi-generational living 18:47

    Rugby:
    The All Blacks head coaching vacancy came too late for Vern Cotter's consideration 18:37


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd