Television has delivered some of the most unforgettable moments in music history. From the early days of rock and roll to the high-production Super Bowl halftime shows, these performances have captured hearts, broken barriers, and shaped culture.
When Elvis Presley shook up viewers on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1956, television changed forever. Over 60 million people watched his hip-swaying debut, marking the arrival of rock and roll in American living rooms.
Just eight years later, The Beatles took the same stage and sparked the British Invasion. 73 million viewers tuned in as the Fab Four performed in 1964, inspiring a new generation of musicians and redefining pop culture worldwide.
In 1983, Michael Jackson’s performance of “Billie Jean” during Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever left audiences stunned. Jackson’s debut of the moonwalk became one of television’s most iconic moments, elevating the music video era that would soon follow on MTV.
Then came Whitney Houston’s powerful rendition of the National Anthem at Super Bowl XXV in Tampa in 1991. According to Rolling Stone, her performance wasn’t just a show-stopper; it was a unifying moment for the nation during the Gulf War. With her flawless vocals and heartfelt delivery, Houston turned “The Star-Spangled Banner” into a global anthem of hope, later reaching the Billboard Hot 100 charts.
Years later, Beyoncé’s MTV Video Music Awards performance of “Single Ladies” in 2009 demonstrated unmatched stage command and choreography, which Variety called one of the defining television moments of the decade.
And in 2007, Prince turned the Super Bowl XLI Halftime Show into something almost spiritual. As The New York Times recounted, his guitar-scorching version of “Purple Rain,” played in an actual downpour, remains one of the most celebrated TV performances in history.
