Even Slim Shady gets stage fright sometimes! In a new video, Eminem opened up about his headspace before he co-headlines the Super Bowl half-time show tomorrow night. In an iconic 00’s-hip-hop link-up, Eminem will be sharing the stage on Sunday night with Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, and Dr. Dre. In the clip, Eminem revealed he’s nervous for the big moment, telling interviewer Sway Calloway: “To me, there’s nothing more final than live TV.”
In the new video, part of an interview Eminem did for SiriusXM’s Shade 45 podcast, Em had no false ideas about the size of his responsibility at the Super Bowl. When Sway mentioned the size of the half-time show stage Eminem began discussing the “nerve-wracking” experience. He emphasized how the permanence of a live TV performance raises the stakes, explaining: “If you f**k up, your f**k up is there forever.”
Ahead of the big day, half-time show sponsor Pepsi released a dramatic trailer where all five Super Bowl performers descend together onto SoFi Stadium after facing individual obstacles. In the clip, Eminem is at his motor-mouthed best while rap battling a unique foe: himself.
Although the trailer could have been out of a superhero movie, preparation for the big show has had light-hearted moments as well. In an interview, Dr. Dre joked that while rehearsing he had to talk some of his co-stars out of not-so-accidental indecent exposure. “I had to talk Snoop and Eminem out of pulling their penises out,” Dre revealed to TMZ. “It’s just actually Eminem.” Dre promised, however, that he convinced Snoop and Em to keep it “casual” come Sunday night. With less than 24 hours to go until kickoff, only time will tell how “casual” the big show can be.
Super Bowl LVI will kick off at 6:30 PM EST on Sunday, Feb. 13, at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.