SUPERSTAR Beyonce Knowles wowed crowds in an electrifying half-time show at America's Super Bowl – moments before a power cut plunged the stadium into darkness.

The singer wore a black leather and lace one piece for her spectacular song-and-dance routine in front of 70,000 fans at the New Orleans Superdome and more than 100 million viewers worldwide.

The 31-year-old belted out hits including Crazy in Love and Baby Boy before being joined on stage for a surprise performance with her former Destiny's Child bandmates.

Kelly Rowland, 31, and Michelle Williams, 32, wore similar black outfits as the trio launched into an explosive rendition of Bootylicious and Independent Women, as well as a version of Beyonce's hit Single Ladies.

The showstopping performance came a week after Beyonce admitted lip synching to a backing track during a performance at President Obama's inauguration.

In the days leading up to the Super Bowl the singer said she would be "absolutely singing live".

Shortly after the 13 minute show as play got underway, a power cut hit the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

The scoreboard and half of the overhead lights went out.

Players from the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers had to wait more than half-an-hour before they could restart the game.

The lights first went out on the 49ers' side of the field before dimming in other parts of the stadium.

However, overhead lighting remained on and kept the 72,968-seat stadium partly lit.

In a nail-biting finish, the Ravens eventually managed a 34-31 victory over the San Francisco team.

Before the game Grammy award winner Alicia Keys, 32, played the piano as she sang the national anthem live.

And Jennifer Hudson, 31, sang America the Beautiful accompanied by the Sandy Hook Elementary School chorus.

The school children wore green ribbons on their T-shirts in honour of the 26 classmates and teachers who were killed in the shooting at the Connecticut school in December.

rachel.loxton@ eveningtimes.co.uk

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