<P> Pink performed "The Star - Spangled Banner", while Leslie Odom Jr. sang "America the Beautiful". Pink spit out a throat lozenge shortly before singing the anthem, later verified after many commentators thought she had spit out a piece of gum . She reported being ill with flu symptoms during her performance . No players were observed kneeling during the national anthem, in contrast to the protests that happened earlier in the 2016 and 2017 seasons . </P> <P> Fifteen Medal of Honor recipients participated in the coin toss ceremony . World War II hero Hershel W. Williams was the honorary captain and had the honors of flipping the coin . </P> <P> Justin Timberlake headlined the Super Bowl LII halftime show, along with his band "The Tennessee Kids" and featuring the University of Minnesota Marching Band . Timberlake performed in two previous Super Bowls: Super Bowl XXXV in 2001 as a member of NSYNC, and Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004 with Janet Jackson . </P> <P> Timberlake's performance drew criticism for not being "spectacular", looking to be safe and avoid incidents such as the infamous "wardrobe malfunction" encountered during his performance with Jackson, and for incorporating a video of Prince, who opposed performances combining the dead and the living . </P>

Who is playing halftime in the super bowl this year