Bruno Mars’ Super Bowl Halftime Show: 5 Fun Facts

Bruno Mars rocked MetLife Stadium on Sunday night, as the headliner for the Pepsi Super Bowl XLVIII Halftime show.

While the game was less than thrilling (unless you’re a Seattle Seahwaks fan), Bruno — who was joined by the Red Hot Chili Peppers during the gig – actually made a bit of history during his set.

Here are five notable facts about the performance:

Age Is Just A Number: Bruno Mars made history as he took the stage at the Pepsi Super Bowl XLVIII Halftime Show as the youngest artist ever (he’s 28) to serve as the sole NFL Super Bowl Halftime headliner.

A Special Dedication To Mom: The drum kit played by the Grammy winner to start the show was designed to honor his late mother, Bernadette Hernandez. The artwork was modeled after Bruno’s arm tattoo, which is dedicated to his mom.

Fashion Statement: Bruno Mars and his eight-piece band, The Hooligans, were dressed from head-to-toe in clothes created custom Saint Laurent by Hedi Slimane.

A Dash Of Chili Peppers: It was Bruno Mars’ idea to have the Red Hot Chili Peppers join him on stage. The rock legends came out to perform “Give It Away,” after an invitation from the crooner back in August 2013, prior to being announced as the halftime performer. Bruno Mars said the Red Hot Chili Peppers were the first name he thought of to join him because they are a “soulful” band who are “passionate about creating music and performing.”

The ‘Amazing’ Tribute: Bruno Mars ended the performance with a powerful solo rendition of his Grammys Award-winning single “Just The Way You Are,” which included a special video package honoring men and women of the United States Armed Forces, capturing personalized messages for their loved ones. As he stood at midfield, the singer was backed by the biggest firework display in NFL Super Bowl history.

— Eric Anderson