Super Bowl: Lady Gaga stays clear of politics at halftime show
The outspoken singer did not mention Donald Trump, but instead used her performance to promote self-confidence and inclusion.
Thursday 9 February 2017 05:16, UK
Lady Gaga's halftime show at the Super Bowl was big on glitz and fun, offering an uncontroversial message of inclusion and patriotism to a divided nation.
Many had speculated about whether the outspoken singer would use her spotlight to address women's rights, immigration or President Donald Trump.
But she stayed away from an overtly political message.
As she dropped from the top of Houston's NRG Stadium, the 30-year-old opened the show with snippets of God Bless America and This Land Is Your Land with red and blue lights twinkling above.
She did not mention Mr Trump, with her most notable ad-lib devoted simply to saying hi to mum and dad.
Dressed in a silver, sequined bodysuit and matching heeled boots, Gaga sang hits including Poker Face and Born This Way, an anthem for self-confidence and inclusion.
She also performed Telephone and Just Dance and joined a diverse group of dancers for Bad Romance.
The artist commanded the show on her own, eschewing a tradition of halftime main acts bringing on special guests.
The singer, known for her flair for the dramatic, dropped the mic to end the show - which usually has an audience topping 100 million and is easily the biggest act of an artist's career.
While Gaga avoided making explicit political statements during her set, it was Renee Elise Goldsberry, Phillipa Soo, and Jasmine Cephas Jones - the Schuyler sisters in hit Broadway musical Hamilton - who caused a stir with a subtle statement of support for women, adding the words "and sisterhood" to the first verse in the line: "And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea."
The addition was immediately picked up on social media and became a top trend on Twitter.