Top 25 Best Live Performances of Every Year (2000-2024)

2000: Eminem

“17th MTV Video Music Awards” (2000)

Marshall Mathers and all his aliases crashed onto the world stage as the new millennium dawned. In 2000, he was at the height of his newfound fame. The hysteria around him had teenagers rapping along and taking style notes while their parents clutched their pearls. So his VMAs performance that year reflects the paranoia surrounding him and his aggressive lyrics and style. Surrounded by dozens of Slim Shady look-alikes, his spirited medley of two songs from his landmark album, “The Marshall Mathers LP” is an impressive and immediately classic display of his showmanship and attitude.

2001: Britney Spears

“18th MTV Video Music Awards” (2001)

The so-called “Princess of Pop” had stunned the audience at the VMAs the previous year with her scandalously sensual rendition of “Oops!... I Did It Again.” Britney Spears raised the snakes… sorry, stakes… at the 2001 ceremony. Full of scantily-clad dancers and fog effects, the performance of her hit, “I’m a Slave 4 U” has gone on to become one of the most memorable in VMA history. Most of that has to do with the appearance of a very special guest. The image of a glistening Spears draping an albino python over her shoulders cemented this as a defining moment of the Y2K era.

2002: U2

“Super Bowl XXXVI Halftime Show” (2002)

Airing only five months after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the 2002 Super Bowl in New Orleans was expected to be a more somber occasion than usual. The NFL actually bumped the originally scheduled halftime performer, Janet Jackson, in favor of U2. Their halftime show was 12 minutes of supreme musicianship and a catharsis after months of grief and fear. In the middle of their songs “MLK” and “Where the Streets Have No Name,” a crawl listing the names of all the 9/11 victims was projected behind them. The audience’s cheers as frontman Bono opened his coat to reveal an American flag lining said it all.

2003: Red Hot Chili Peppers

“Red Hot Chili Peppers: Live at Slane Castle” (2003)

Slane Castle is almost legendary for the decades of rock concerts on its grounds. In 2003, the funk-metal-rock fusion band Red Hot Chili Peppers recorded an amazing live concert there. One of the concert’s best moments is their performance of “By the Way” leading into “Scar Tissue.” They sound great and they are giving this their all, but what’s really special is the energy. Everyone on screen looks completely blissed out. It’s so good, you actually see someone in the audience just fall over at one point. Look, that could be anything. We’ll just chalk that up to the excitement of seeing an incredible show.

2004: Prince, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Steve Winwood & Dhani Harrison

“Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony” (2004)

Three years after his death, former Beatle and successful solo artist George Harrison was inducted into the storied Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. To pay tribute, the event brought together Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne of Electric Light Orchestra, Steve Winwood, Harrison’s son Dhani, and Prince. There’s no question this is a star-studded lineup. However, Prince emerges as the MVP as soon as he launches into what is potentially one of the greatest guitar solos ever captured on film. What made it even sweeter was that Prince had been left off of Rolling Stone magazine’s greatest guitarists list only days before. He went on that stage with the intention to prove how massive an oversight this was.

2005: Melissa Etheridge & Joss Stone

“47th Annual Grammy Awards” (2005)

Paying tribute to one of the most indelible voices in rock music is daunting enough. Joining British soul singer Joss Stone for a Janis Joplin tribute, Melissa Etheridge had endured her chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer weeks before. The 2005 Grammys ceremony was her first big stage appearance since her diagnosis. “Piece of My Heart” is not a song for the weak-hearted or the weak-voiced. If this song requires anything, it’s energy, and it’s clear she’s giving it everything she’s got. Etheridge later admitted that she was exhausted halfway through the song. She could have fooled us. It’s electric, and an incredible show of talent no matter the circumstances.

2006: Chaka Khan, Yolanda Adams, India.Arie, Prince & Stevie Wonder

“6th BET Awards” (2006)

The amount of talent on this stage should be illegal. Chaka Khan received a tribute befitting a queen at the 2006 BET Awards ceremony, and it’s a celebration befitting a true queen. Prince acts as lead guitarist, backing vocalist, and music director. He leads a supergroup including gospel singer Yolanda Adams, R&B singer-songwriter India.Arie, and the prodigiously talented Stevie Wonder himself through an extended medley. Most of Khan’s biggest hits are represented. What sends it over the edge is when Khan herself joins in on the fun halfway through. Naturally, the whole thing ends with a stunning rendition of “I’m Every Woman” that brings the house down.

2007: Prince

“Super Bowl XLI Halftime Show” (2007)

There are moments when performers seem to be superhuman. This is one of them. Rain had been falling for most of the Super Bowl game on February 4, 2007 at Dolphin Stadium. As Prince performed his biggest hits for an audience of millions, a downpour began. Raindrops streaked the cameras, obscuring the whole show. The stage, formed in the shape of his “love symbol,” became slicked with rain, turning it into a slipping hazard. Despite all this, or maybe even because of it, it’s top-tier entertainment. This is the kind of epic show every rock star aspires to give. It’s a collision of immense talent and less-than-perfect circumstances that turned into pure magic.

2008: Amy Winehouse

“50th Annual Grammy Awards” (2008)

Due to visa issues, the English singer-songwriter was unable to make the trip to the ceremony. Somehow, that made Amy Winehouse’s appearance via satellite even more special. This performance was as much a celebration of her amazing year with the “Back to Black” album and a comeback, as she had recently made headlines with her personal struggles. But her distinctive vocal stylings and highly improvisational approach to her music were on full display here. Performing “You Know I’m No Good” and “Rehab,” Winehouse gives the audience at home a real taste of her performance style. She’s not here to sound exactly like her records. She’s feeling each moment and giving us the impression she’s just making this up as she goes along.

2009: Lady Gaga

“26th MTV Video Music Awards” (2009)

At first, we didn’t know what to expect from the artist behind “Poker Face” and “Just Dance.” But when it came to her live performances, Lady Gaga wasn’t just here to perform the songs as we knew them. She gave us elaborate theatrical productions. “Paparazzi” is probably the pinnacle of her early career themes of fame and the way it can destroy a person. Her 2009 VMAs performance brings out the horror and violence behind this already haunting pop song. And then, of course, there’s that famous moment. You can hear the gasps in the audience as the stage blood begins to run down her costume. It’s not just a performance. It’s her entire artistic statement.

2010: Pink

“52nd Annual Grammy Awards” (2010)

Before she was shooting herself across packed arenas and dazzling us with aerial stunts, many of us got our first taste of Pink’s love for acrobatics at the 2010 Grammys. Things started out simply enough. Pink took to the stage to sing a pretty love ballad, “Glitter in the Air.” Then, she joined a group of dancers spinning with fabrics that lifted the singer into the air over the audience. It absolutely stopped the show. Defying gravity and twirling at high speeds, Pink’s voice never wavers. She didn’t even falter when she was covered in water near the end of the song. The whole thing looked and sounded incredible.

2011: Beyoncé

“28th MTV Video Music Awards” (2011)

2011 was the year Adele broke records and won millions of fans with her second album, “21.” Her BRIT Awards performance of “Someone Like You” is still fondly remembered. However, we can’t pretend “Love On Top” just didn’t happen. There’s a lot to juggle with this song. It’s high energy all the way through, and the progressive key changes at the climax require a mastery of technique. Beyoncé, as always, makes it look effortless. Then comes the big finish. Beyoncé unsnapped her glittery jacket and rubbed her stomach, signalling that she was pregnant. It made this already superlative show unforgettable.

2012: Heart

“35th Annual Kennedy Center Honors” (2012)

Honoring rock gods Led Zeppelin, the Wilson sisters paid tribute in the most epic way imaginable. Joined by drummer Jason Bonham, the son of Zeppelin’s late drummer, and backed by a choir, Heart’s ethereal rendition of “Stairway to Heaven” is worthy of its title. This is a rock symphony. Ann Wilson’s vocals are on point, the musicians are killing it, and the room is completely spellbound. Everyone in the crowd seems to recognize how special a moment this is. But it’s most moving for founding members Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones, who have tears in their eyes throughout.

2013: Beyoncé & Destiny’s Child

“Super Bowl XLVII Halftime Show” (2013)

The announcement that Beyoncé would be headlining her first Super Bowl Halftime Show as a solo artist had the rumor mill turning. A Destiny’s Child reunion was imminent, and we all knew it. But she had already brought the house down by the time Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams popped out of the stage to join her. We weren’t sure we could handle this, actually. Neither could the power grid, apparently. The stadium experienced a blackout soon after the performance. Okay, technically the Halftime Show had nothing to do with the power outage, but it’s fun to imagine.

2014: Daft Punk, Nile Rodgers, Pharrell Williams & Stevie Wonder

“56th Annual Grammy Awards” (2014)

Daft Punk joined Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers for a dance medley that included their joint hit, “Get Lucky.” But for an extra dose of excitement, Stevie Wonder joined them on vocals and keys. While this is supposed to be your standard showcase for a Grammy-nominated song, they went above and beyond for their presentation. They chose to pay tribute to the songs and genres that inspired “Get Lucky” as well as Daft Punk’s past work. The stage is dressed like a 70s recording studio, all earth tones before transforming into a neon, space age fantasy when Daft Punk shows up in their astronaut gear. It’s part-awards show performance, part-dance party.

2015: Aretha Franklin

“38th Annual Kennedy Center Honors” (2015)

Carole King is responsible for writing some of the most famous songs of the 20th Century. One of them became the signature song of the “Queen of Soul” herself. You know you’re a big deal when Aretha Franklin herself appears to honor you. King herself can hardly believe it. Sitting down at the piano in her elegant fur coat, Franklin treats us to a rendition of “A Natural Woman” so powerful it has President Obama wiping tears away. Several decades into her career here, Franklin’s immaculate pipes have never sounded better. When she throws that fur off and starts wailing into the mic, she has the entire crowd on its feet.

2016: Kendrick Lamar

“58th Annual Grammy Awards” (2016)

Presenting three songs from his acclaimed 2015 album “To Pimp a Butterfly,” Kendrick Lamar’s Grammy performance called on traditions of dance, struggle, and resistance. He begins the performance as a member of a chain gang on a prison set before breaking the chains and launching into a journey through time and space. It’s performance art, steeped in a culture constantly under assault but determined to persevere. Lamar shifts between modes and levels of intensity throughout the performance. From despair to anger to hope, from storyteller to pastor to renegade. It’s a stunning feat of musicality, acting, style, and concept that is so much bigger than one moment.

2017: Lady Gaga

“Super Bowl LI Halftime Show” (2017)

Beginning the show on top of Houston’s massive NRG Stadium, the “Born This Way” singer jumped off the roof and descended on wires to the stage below. We instantly knew we were in for something special. After that meme-worthy entrance, Gaga displayed all the skills she had sharpened over almost a decade of being one of our foremost pop icons. She and her dancers cycle through a medley of her career hits at breakneck speed. It’s frenetic and fast-paced, but it never feels sloppy or out of control. Like all her performances, it’s perfectly calibrated for theatricality and technical mastery.

2018: Beyoncé

“19th Coachella Festival” (2018)

Her two-night engagement at the 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival was nicknamed Beychella by the fans, and it did not disappoint. Representing Beyoncé’s growth and artistic developments over the past several years, the celebratory vibe of the concert is evident. Initially watched via livestream by nearly half a million people, the best moments were later assembled for her “Homecoming” documentary. There are too many highlights to count, but “Diva” is a definite standout. From the response to the audience to the way she hits all those movies, it’s all the proof you need that she’s one of the best in the game.

2019: Billie Eilish

“Saturday Night Live” (1975-)

The bass-thumping, hard-edged trap-pop hit is already dripping with cool excess. Billie Eilish and her team took it a step further for her “SNL” appearance. Taking a page out of Fred Astaire’s book, of all people, Eilish performed “Bad Guy” in a specially-made rotating box. Jumping around the rigged set, Eilish cooed into the mic between dancing on the ceiling and walls. She makes near-seamless transitions while the camera stays in place, and the box she performs in is rotated on its axis. The effect is striking and surreal, defying gravity and expectations for a famously subdued song.

2020: Taylor Swift & Bon Iver

“Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions” (2020)

The year of quarantine, Swift dropped an album that had her sound taking a hard left after years of pop hits. “Folklore” was more introspective, with a folk and Americana-driven sound. In lieu of a tour, she opted to lock down with producer-collaborators Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner and produce a live recording of the album’s songs. Recording remotely, Swift and Bon Iver hauntingly recreated the album’s devastating, lovelorn duet. It’s incredibly intimate for being such a clear product of the early COVID-19 pandemic. The literal distance between them only adds to the song’s themes of two lovers who no longer recognize each other.

2021: The Weeknd & Ariana Grande

“8th iHeart Radio Music Awards” (2021)

Although he was nominated for another song, the Weeknd used his opening slot at the iHeart Radio Music Awards to highlight his chart-smashing duet with Ariana Grande. Originally a solo track, Grande joined him on a special remix of “Save Your Tears” in 2021, and they recreated that magic live on stage. From Grande’s smooth entrance, leaning against a piece of the set, to her amazing whistle tone, this is the kind of performance that builds steam as it goes along. By the end, their well-paired voices and genuine joy at performing with each other is contagious.

2022: BTS

“64th Annual Grammy Awards” (2022)

For their Grammys appearance, the South Korean boy group turned their smooth, catchy pop hit into a high concept number that’s equal parts NSYNC and James Bond. BTS is a well-oiled machine. A seven-man explosion of talent, all their skills are on display here. Playing on their charms as well as their polished dancing abilities, “Butter” is a slickly choreographed showstopper that oozes verve and sophistication. With at least two extended dance sequences and enough movement to make an Olympic athlete winded, it’s a demanding performance piece. That’s to say nothing of their voices. They sound, fittingly enough, smooth as butter.

2023: Taylor Swift

“Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” (2023)

There’s a reason it was the best-selling concert tour of all time. “The Eras Tour,” a three-plus-hour retrospective of Taylor Swift’s nearly two-decade career, is not unprecedented in its idea or even its scope. The hype alone warrants it a spot here. But the real reason it’s here is simple. Swift never sounded better than she does on this tour. At the peak of her powers as a seasoned music veteran, she smashes every single hit, b-side, and rarity like it’s the highlight of the concert. But if we had to pick a highlight, it would have to be her incredibly powerful rendition of the 10-minute version of “All Too Well.” As captured on the documentary concert film, it’s a standout moment in a jam-packed movie.

2024: Chappell Roan

“Saturday Night Live” (1975-)

2024 was a banner year for the Grammy winner for Best New Artist. This electric and referential performance felt like a victory lap on one of television’s most legendary stages. Chappell Roan performed “Pink Pony Club,” the song many consider to be her anthem, for the “SNL” audience. The crowd was loving it, screaming the song’s unforgettable chorus right back at her. Hitting her characteristic high notes and jumping around with the exuberance of someone still new on the scene, she isn’t just a star in the making. She’s a star, full stop, no qualifiers.

Who deserved a spot on this list? Tell us in the comments.