1

Prince (2007)

Prince delivered a legendary performance at Super Bowl XLI in 2007, often considered the greatest halftime show ever. Without tricks or surprise guests, just his incredible talent and iconic guitar, Prince killed it with songs like "Let’s Go Crazy" and "Baby I’m a Star." But the true gem of the night was "Purple Rain": As heavy rain poured from the sky and purple lights washed over the stage, everyone at the Dolphin Stadium and millions of us watching live at home lived a moment we would never forget.

2

Michael Jackson (1993)

Until 1993, the Super Bowl halftime show looked very, very different. But the marching bands and themed productions came to an end when Michael Jackson took the stage at the Rose Bowl during Super Bowl XXVII. He turned the halftime show into a world-class pop concert. With a dramatic opening, perfectly coordinated choreography, and shocking visuals, Jackson got more viewers than the game itself, something that had never been done before.

3

The Rolling Stones (2006)

There were about 68,200 people at Ford Field in Detroit for Super Bowl XL on February 5, 2006, when the Rolling Stones hit the stage. As Mick Jagger delivered the opening lines of "Start Me Up," the crowd knew they were witnessing something special.

The legendary band didn’t need gimmicks or elaborate effects, just true rock and roll. However, they still gave the show their own special touch: a giant stage shaped like their iconic tongue logo.

4

Paul McCartney (2005)

In 2005, the NFL chose one of the world’s most respected musicians to lead the halftime show at Super Bowl XXXIX. Luckily for us, Paul McCartney said yes and took the stage at Alltel Stadium to deliver one of the Super Bowl’s most memorable performances.

Music lovers were euphoric as the former Beatle performed classics like "Drive My Car," "Get Back," and "Live and Let Die." Of course, he saved the best for last and closed his show with more than 80,000 people in the stadium singing along to "Hey Jude."

5

Bruce Springsteen (2009)

The energy of real music filled the stage at Raymond James Stadium from the very first second of Bruce Springsteen’s halftime show at Super Bowl XLIII. The E Street Band was already doing its thing when the singer tossed his guitar aside, took the mic, looked straight into the camera, and told America, "Put the chicken fingers down and turn your TV all the way up!", becoming one of the most memorable shows for old-school rock and roll fans.

6

Janet Jackson (2004)

Janet Jackson filled the stage with talent, dance, and impressive stage effects during her halftime show at Super Bowl XXXVIII at Reliant Stadium. But what most people remember isn’t the music; it’s what happened at the very end of the show.

For the final song, "Rock Your Body," Janet was joined by Justin Timberlake. Everything was going perfectly until a miscalculated move led to the infamous "wardrobe malfunction." The incident sparked immediate controversy and overshadowed what had been a great and powerful performance.

7

Madonna (2012)

A legion of Roman gladiators in armor and helmets introduced the incredible Madonna during her halftime show at Lucas Oil Stadium for Super Bowl XLVI. The Queen of Pop was carried in as the unmistakable intro to "Vogue" began to play. With precise choreography, amazing visuals, and captivating stage design, the spectacle fascinated audiences around the world, drawing more than 114 million viewers.

8

Beyoncé (2013)

In 2013, the stage at Super Bowl XLVII literally burst into flames as one of pop’s biggest stars prepared to deliver a halftime performance that people would remember for years.

Before we could even clearly see her face, Beyoncé’s powerful voice echoed through the stadium, letting us know that we were about to see an unforgettable performance. Still, few expected what came next. Just minutes into the show, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, her former bandmates from Destiny's Child, rose onto the stage, making fans go wild.

9

Dr. Dre and friends (2022)

Rap and hip-hop fans will never forget the electrifying halftime show led by Dr. Dre and friends at Super Bowl LVI in 2022. The stadium trembled as stars like Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and Mary J. Blige joined him on stage. But as if that weren't enough, in one of the night’s biggest surprises, 50 Cent appeared to perform his hit "In Da Club." The event marked a turning point for both the Super Bowl show and the hip-hop genre, and won several Primetime Emmy Awards.

10

Rihanna (2023)

Rihanna’s 2023 Super Bowl performance at State Farm Stadium was definitely special. What at first seemed like a typical pop show became one of the biggest surprises in halftime history. As she started to sing the very first song, Rihanna suddenly revealed her baby bump: she was pregnant with her second child, a secret that even her dancers and team didn’t know. The show drew around 121 million viewers, making it the most-watched halftime ever at that time.

1

Richard Nixon proposed to his wife the day they met

Richard Nixon met Pat Ryan in 1937 while auditioning for a community theater play. According to reports, he fell head over heels for her right away, and even proposed on their very first date! Pat, showing a little more sense, said no at the time, but two years later, in June 1940, she finally said yes and became his wife. The true romantic-in-chief!

2

George H.W. Bush almost chose Clint Eastwood as his running mate

During George H.W. Bush's 1988 presidential campaign, his team considered a candidate who was definitely well-known to everyone, even people who didn’t follow politics. It was none other than Clint Eastwood, Hollywood star and former mayor of Carmel, California. Can you imagine if a movie star had been Bush’s vice president?

3

Martin Van Buren wrote an autobiography without mentioning his wife

How do you write an autobiography and leave out your wife? Well, President Martin Van Buren did exactly that. Historians suggest two reasons: at the time, it was considered poor taste to write about one’s wife, and the other reason was Van Buren’s heartbreak. Hannah Hoes Van Buren, his wife and also his childhood sweetheart, died of tuberculosis years before he became president, and some believe his grief kept him from remarrying or even talking about her.

4

William Faulkner turned down an invitation from JFK

Would you turn down a dinner invitation at the White House? Renowned writer William Faulkner did. He declined an invitation from President John F. Kennedy, who had included him in an event honoring Nobel Prize winners. Faulkner explained he was "a hundred miles away" and that it was "a long way to go just to eat."

5

Jimmy Carter wrote a children's book

Jimmy Carter wasn’t just a state senator, governor, and President of the United States. It turns out he had other interests too, including literature. Did you know he wrote a children’s book? Titled The Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer , it was published in 1995.

6

Theodore Roosevelt didn’t think a black eye seemed presidential

Teddy Roosevelt loved boxing, but once he became president, he had to be cautious. He chose to scale back his training sessions at the White House, saying it was, in his own words, "rather absurd for a president to appear with a black eye, a swollen nose, or a cut lip."

7

Bill Clinton's cat had its own video game

Have you heard of Socks the Cat Rocks the Hill ? It was a game developed for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and Sega Genesis, starring Socks, the Clinton family’s famous cat. Unfortunately, it was canceled before it ever reached the public.

8

Theodore Roosevelt had a lock of Abe Lincoln's hair

Yes, we know, the title sounds a little odd, but it’s actually a story of loyalty and admiration. When Teddy Roosevelt started his second term, he wore a ring containing a lock of hair from none other than Abraham Lincoln. It was a gift from John Hay, one of Lincoln’s private secretaries, who knew of Roosevelt’s deep respect for Honest Abe.

9

Gerald Ford worked as a model

Many presidents had hobbies, and some even held jobs outside politics before the Oval Office. One of them was Gerald Ford, who worked as a model! In fact, it was through modeling that he met the woman who would become his wife.

10

Herbert Hoover managed the football team

Speaking of hobbies and interests, Herbert Hoover had a pretty common one: He really loved sports. But here’s the interesting part: He came to manage the baseball and football teams at Stanford in 1892.

1

Band-Aid

While Band-Aid is still a generic name —other brands use the terms "adhesive bandage" or "plaster" in their products— it is undoubtedly the most popular brand and word used for this kind of bandage. Invented in 1920 by a Johnson & Johnson employee whose wife often injured herself while cooking, the Band-Aid became popular during the Great Depression , as it was a quick and cheap alternative to going to the hospital for minor injuries.

2

Dumpster

Most folks wouldn't know that Dumpster is a brand, but this product is officially called "waste container". The term dumpster was first used in 1936 as part of the mechanic Dempster-Dumpster system, which allowed for standardized containers to be emptied into garbage trucks. Dumpster was a portmanteau of Dempster (the company's name) and the word "dump" , and the system became so successful that dumpster became synonymous with any garbage container.

3

Tupperware

This case is the opposite of the "dumpster": Tupperware has become a generic name for storage containers, but everyone knows that Tupperware-branded tupperwares are the best tupperwares . Founded in 1942 by Earl Tupper, the brand grew through a sales plan that allowed people —usually women— to earn an income without a salaried, in-office job. Through home gatherings known as "Tupperware parties", these women were able to show the products, network, and make sales among their neighbors and acquaintances, a format that contributed greatly to the popularity of Tupperware products.

4

Cellophane

The chances of hearing "cellulose film" instead of "cellophane" are low, but never zero. While in the UK and other countries, Cellophane is still a trademarked name, in the U.S. the term is not only generic, but is also used for products that are not made from cellulose film , such as plastic wrap or kitchen film.

5

Dry Ice

Nowadays, "dry ice" is a common name for solid carbon dioxide, a form of ice that melts at a slower pace and without leaving a puddle. But did you know that "dry ice" was originally a brand name? Developed in the late 19th century by French inventor Adrien-Jean-Pierre Thilorier, it was first commercialized in the U.S. in 1924. The name "Dry Ice" for this product was trademarked by the DryIce Corporation of America , and quickly became the generic name.

6

Escalator

You might have heard of the Otis Elevator Company, founded by the inventor of the modern elevator, Elisha Otis, but did you know that this company trademarked the word "Escalator"?. Although they were not the inventors of the moving staircase, they were the first to develop the modern flat-step commercial escalator that we use today , a machine so common that its name became generic, leading to the cancellation of the trademark.

7

Ping-Pong

If you are an avid Summer Olympics watcher, you might have noticed that "Ping-Pong" is not officially used for the sport usually known by that name. That is because the sport is officially called "table tennis". The name Ping-Pong was initially used as a brand in the UK, and later trademarked in America by the Parker Brothers. Although it is the most widely known name of the sport, the International Table Tennis Federation uses the name "table tennis" in order to avoid trademark conflicts.

8

Realtor

Despite what many would think, "realtor" is a trademarked name and not the official name of a profession. Owned by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the generic term for the profession is "real estate agent" or "real estate broker". The only real estate agents that can legally use the name "realtor" are active members of NAR.

9

Trampoline

Trampoline is no longer a trademarked name, but it was in its origins. Derived from the Spanish trampolín ("diving board"), it was created and trademarked by the Griswold-Nissen Trampoline & Tumbling Company in 1930, and the technical name for the product was "rebound tumbler" . Trampoline is now accepted as a generic name for a variety of bouncing apparatuses.

10

Windbreaker

We now understand that a windbreaker is any lightweight, wind-resistant jacket, but it originally referred to gabardine jackets by the John Rissman Company of Chicago . The name was developed and trademarked in the 1940s for this specific type of jacket, but down the line it not only became generic for waterproof jackets, but also synonymous with a jacket made of thin synthetic fabric like nylon or polyester.