Lady Gaga soars over Super Bowl stage with bow to inclusion

As many speculated about whether the outspoken singer would use her spotlight to address women's rights, immigration or President Donald Trump, Gaga recited part of the American Pledge of Allegiance, "one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all," in her opening song. She then swung down from the roof to a stage suspended on cables and embarked on a meticulously choreographed 13-minute set of her greatest hits during the National Football League championship game between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons. This year's Super Bowl followed a fierce presidential election campaign that Trump won in November but which left the country at least as fractured afterwards as before it began. Trump was greeted with massive protests just after taking office on January 20, and his policy moves have sparked further protests and controversy in the first weeks of his presidency. Ahead of her high-profile performance, watched by more than 100 million US viewers, Gaga, 30, said in a post on the Instagram social media network that she planned to headline the slot entirely on her own, eschewing a tradition of half-time main acts bringing on special guests. Singer Lady Gaga performs during the halftime show at Super Bowl LI between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons in Houston, Texas, US, February 5, 2017. Photo: ReutersDressed in a silver, sequinned bodysuit and matching heeled boots, Gaga sang her dance hits "Poker Face" and "Born This Way" - an anthem for self-confidence and inclusion - as she performed aerial acrobatics while suspended in the air. She then descended onto the stage to dance through "Telephone" and "Just Dance" before running through the crowd to a piano, where she sang her new song, "Million Reasons," giving a shout-out to her parents while she performed. Singer Lady Gaga performs during the halftime show at Super Bowl LI between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons in Houston, Texas, US, February 5, 2017. Photo: ReutersAfter joining her diverse cadre of dancers for "Bad Romance," the singer, known for her flair for the dramatic, ended her set by dropping her microphone, catching a football and jumping off a set of stairs onto the field. While Gaga avoided making explicit political statements during her set, it was Renee Elise Goldsberry, Phillipa Soo, and Jasmine Cephas Jones, the Schuyler sisters on hit Broadway musical "Hamilton," who caused a stir with a subtle statement of support for women. As the trio sang "America the Beautiful" before the start of the game, they added the words "and sisterhood," in the first verse that contained the words "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:

Enjoy the #SuperBowl and then we continue: MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 5, 2017

I'm one of 100 million #SuperBowl fans that just went #Gaga for the Lady, & her message to all of us. https://t.co/8AoNqjwr1b

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) February 6, 2017

Incredible performance by @ladygaga #PepsiHalftime #SuperBowl

— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) February 6, 2017

It was SO important that @ladygaga sang 'Born This Way' tonight at the bowl with all the negativity going on lately in the world, so proud ? — caeyoncé ? (@caelalogan) February 6, 2017

“This land is your land, this land is my land” has a slightly different spin to it when sung surrounded by 100s of hovering drones.

— Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) February 6, 2017

@ladygaga you killed that!!!! — Bruno Mars (@BrunoMars) February 6, 2017

Dancing hard. Singing live. Ends it catching a football! I always liked #Gaga. Now I love her. Sorry not sorry. That was freakin' awesome.

— chris pratt (@prattprattpratt) February 6, 2017

thank you Gaga for not making that political. signed, America — Bobby Bones (@mrBobbyBones) February 6, 2017