Janet Jackson & Justin Timberlake Super Bowl Halftime Show

WHAT HAPPENED AT SUPER BOWL 2004?

Following an owner’s meeting that was held in Atlanta on November 1, 2000, Super Bowl XXXVIII was awarded to Houston.

Super Bowl XXXVIII was played between the AFC’s New England Patriots and NFL’s Carolina Panthers on February 1, 2004, at the Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas, to decide which team would be crowned champions of the 2003 football season.

Notable for:

  • Super Bowl XXXVIII was the first Super Bowl to be played in a stadium with a retractable roof.
  • Since Super Bowl XXXVIII all Super Bowls have taken place on the first Sunday in February.
  • This Super Bowl is commonly regarded as one of the most thrilling Super Bowls in history. The scoring pattern was particularly unusual, with almost 90% of the first half and all of the third quarter being scoreless.
  • It is also famous for Janet Jackson’s apparent “wardrobe malfunction,” which led to her nipple being exposed in front of millions of viewers.

Although both teams failed to score in the first and third quarters of Super Bowl XXXVIII, they clocked up a combined score of 61 points and 868 offensive yards. It was 26:55 before either team scored in this game; however, by half time, the teams had managed to get a combined 24 points on the scoreboard. By the fourth quarter, the combined score had reached 37 points.

Echoing his performance of the previous year, it was Adam Vinatieri who ultimately decided the game, kicking a 41-yard field goal with just seconds remaining on the clock.

For the second time in his career, Tom Brady was Super Bowl MVP. During Super Bowl XXXVIII he set a new record for the most completed passes (32, representing a 66.7% achievement rate). He also completed 12 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns.

Final Score: Carolina Panthers (NFC) – 29 Vs. New England Patriots (AFC) – 32
Date: February 1, 2004
Stadium: Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas
MVP: Tom Brady, Quarterback
Favorite: Patriots by 7
Referee: Ed Hochuli
Attendance: 71,525

Pregame: The show, “Welcome to Houston — The Spirit of Texas” featured Aerosmith, Toby Keith, Willie Nelson, and Walter Suhr and Mango Punch!
Anthem: Beyoncé Knowles (American Sign Language performance by Suzanna Christy)
Coin Toss: Earl Campbell, Ollie Matson, Don Maynard, Mike Singletary, Y.A. Tittle and Gene Upshaw
Half time: Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, P. Diddy, Kid Rock, and Nelly
Halftime theme: Rock the Vote
Halftime setlist:

  • ‘Choose to Party!’ Intro (Jessica Simpson)
  • Marching bands
  • “All for You” (Janet Jackson)
  • “Bad Boy for Life” (P. Diddy)
  • “Diddy” to the tune of “Mickey” (P. Diddy)
  • “Hot in Herre” (Nelly),
  • “Mo Money Mo Problems” (P. Diddy)
  • “Bawitdaba” (Kid Rock),
  • “Cowboy” (Kid Rock)
  • “Rhythm Nation” (Janet Jackson)
  • “Rock Your Body” (Justin Timberlake with Janet Jackson)

The halftime performance went down in history as a result of Janet Jackson’s nipple exposure half way through her set with Justin Timberlake. Many people complained about the indecent exposure; however, it went on to become TiVo’s most rewatched moment in history

The 2004 Super Bowl also marked the formal introduction of the Leather and Laces Party. The party rapidly became THE place at which to be seen following the Super Bowl.

Elsewhere, the Playboy party was held The Corinthian, a century-old neoclassical bank building in the lower downtown area, and was attended by Duran Duran, Jenna Bush, and Simon le Bon; Maxim’s bash was held at the Regal Ranch in Texas and was attended by Paris Hilton, Elisha Cuthbert, and Johnny Knoxville; and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Party was held at Hermann Square, which was attended by David Arquette, Jerry Rice, and Melissa Stark.