Backstreet Boys Want To Headline 2027 Super Bowl Halftime Show After Turning It Down In 2001

Iconic boyband Backstreet Boys are campaigning to headline the 2027 Super Bowl halftime show more than two decades after declining the offer.

The Backstreet Boys, comprised of AJ McLean, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Kevin Richardson, and Brian Litrell, are campaigning to headline the 2027 Super Bowl halftime show.

The bid comes more than two decades after the boy band declined the opportunity. With renewed enthusiasm and a strong fan base, the group appears ready to claim one of music's biggest stages.

AJ McLean Proposed The Idea In Front Of Their Fans

The Backstreet Boys are in the middle of their "Into the Millennium" residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas, and in one of the shows, McLean proposed an idea to the audience.

"What do you guys think? Backstreet Boys. 2027. Super Bowl halftime. Let's make it happen," he told the audience.

The idea was met with loud cheers from the audience, who responded enthusiastically to the prospect of the iconic '90s boy band performing their biggest hits on the Super Bowl stage.

A Change.org petition has already been set up by an individual named Regina Brodley, and as of writing, it has more than 4,500 signatures.

The Backstreet Boys Want A Reunion Of The 2000s Biggest Stars

On February 13, the Backstreet Boys spoke with People and expressed interest in performing the halftime show next year, sharing their vision of what it would look like if given the chance.

"You better vote yes for us to do halftime, especially because it's gonna be in Los Angeles at SoFi next year. That's home for me and Kevin so that would be pretty awesome," McLean said.

Carter added his take, saying that they would bring a "pop explosion," hoping to bring back their peers, *NSYNC and Britney Spears, to which McLean said that both have already performed in the Super Bowl.

"We're bringing back 98 Degrees, I don't care. We're headlining. We're bringing all of our pop friends back," Carter insisted.

As Carter explained, the music from the '90s and 2000s is "some of the most nostalgic for people," which is why they want make this performance happen.

The Boy Band Had The Opportunity To Perform In 2001

More than 20 years ago, the Backstreet Boys were offered the chance to perform on the 2001  Super Bowl stage, but they declined.

That year, the Super Bowl was held in Tampa, Florida, and *NSYNC and Aerosmith headlined the halftime show. The two groups took the stage alternately singing their biggest hits, and in the finale number, they came together and brought special guests, including Britney Spears, Nelly, and Mary J. Blige.

Despite declining to join the halftime show, the Backstreet Boys agreed to sing the national anthem. "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," Carter explained.

The Backstreet Boys Appeared In A 2026 Super Bowl Commercial

Backstreet's back to tell you why it's better over here. pic.twitter.com/IlrgwFbLiB

— T-Mobile (@TMobile) February 6, 2026

Mobile telecommunications company, T-Mobile, came back to the 2026 Super Bowl, marking its 13th consecutive year airing a commercial during the event. This time, they brought in the Backstreet Boys.

The boy band, decked in pink and white garments, sang a rendition of their 1999 hit song "I Want It That Way," changing the lyrics for the advertisement. Rapper and singer MGK also made a special appearance at the end of the commercial.

Andrew Panay, the founder and producer of Panay Films and the mastermind behind the concept, said he was inspired after seeing the Backstreet Boys perform live. "It was extraordinary to watch the energy, I was having a spiritual experience - it was out-of-control amazing," he gushed. "I knew at that point that this is what we could maybe do for the Super Bowl," he added.

Do People Want The Backstreet Boys To Perform At The Super Bowl?

 

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Many users on social media have made their opinions known since the band raised the idea of performing at the Super Bowl. While some offered their own suggestions of who they think should be chosen, many wanted to see the Backstreet Boys.

"I support this fully. Being 3 or 4 beers in by half-time and having the opportunity to sing along to 'Quit Playing Games With My Heart' would be a vibe," one wrote.

"They're relevant, successful, and have material almost everyone knows. Not a bad choice," another added.

One user suggested an idea, writing, "Okay, hear me out... *NSYNC vs Backstreet Boys Halftime Show."