Madonna Confirmed For Super Bowl Halftime

It is a "secret" no longer: Madonna will perform for the first time at this year’s Super Bowl halftime show on February 5, the NFL and NBC officially confirmed Sunday. Cirque du Soleil and longtime choreographer/creative director Jamie King will help Madonna imagine the extravaganza, to be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, MTV News reports.

Rumors that Madonna would be picked as the marquee entertainer of network TV's biggest event were swirling all last month, and it seems as if the Material Girl is poised to capitalize big on the exposure. Madonna's film W.E., an English period epic, will open in theaters a few days after the Super Bowl, and her twelfth studio album is expected to drop sometime next year — which could mean the album's first single might coincide with the big event.

Sri Lankan musical sensation M.I.A. recently confirmed that she and rapper Nicki Minaj collaborated with Madge on "Give Me All You Love," a new song that leaked last month. "Summond to NYC by bitchesses MADONNA and NICKIMINAJ," M.I.A. tweeted last month. "cofffffiiiiiiieeeeeeeeee it iz a good day to get me tho trustttt bitches." Whether the pair will show up for the Bowl's festivities remains to be seen.

Last year's halftime entertainment was provided by the Black Eyed Peas, and performers in the past have included such superastars as Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, The Who, U2 and Prince.