Prince to take Super Bowl stage

Funk pioneer Prince will follow in the footsteps of Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones as headliner for the upcoming Super Bowl halftime show, organizers say.

The six-time Grammy Award winner, who last week was nominated for several more, is the third consecutive Rock and Roll Hall of Famer to serve as the main entertainment for one of television's highest rated shows.

Prince, known for hits such as Kiss, Purple Rain, Let's Go Crazy andLittle Red Corvette, will perform at the game at Dolphin Stadium near Miami on Feb. 4, organizers said Sunday.

Theyhave been more cautious in choosing the entertainer for the Super Bowl's halftime show since Janet Jackson's infamous "wardrobe malfunction" in 2004. At the end of a duet with pop singer Justin Timberlake, the former boy band member ripped away part of Jackson's costume and revealed her naked breast before millions of viewers.

The incident prompted more than half a million complaints to the Federal Communications Commission, as well as a widespread crackdown on broadcasters by the U.S. regulator. CBS, which was that year's Super Bowl broadcaster, was also issued a massive fine for infringing decency standards.

The following year, halftime organizers went a choice who was less likely to be controversial: McCartney. Even then, however, there were a handful of complaints registered about the former Beatle after the show.

Last year's pick, the Rolling Stones, was also considered to be relatively safe.

However, there was a delay placed on the broadcast and,during the performance, Mick Jagger's microphone was silenced while he sang some sexually suggestive lyrics during the band's short set.

While Prince also shot to fame with raunchy music and lyrics, the perennially popular artist has since toned down his material and performances after becoming a Jehovah's Witness.