In 2002 , '' Entertainment Weekly '' reported that Jackson was the original choice to perform at the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVI ; however , the NFL ultimately decided to select U2 to headline it after a group of NFL owners and officials attended the band 's concert in New York City shortly after the September 11 attacks . In September 2003 , the NFL announced that Jackson would be the headline performer of the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show . Because the event was occurring during an election year , MTV decided that the show 's theme would heavily focus on the network 's " Choose or Lose " campaign , which encouraged younger viewers to be politically active and register to vote
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy