AP Music / NEW YORK - Entertainment Weekly reports that U2 played the Super Bowl halftime show for free. The magazine reports that the NFL was willing to pay them but they didn't want any money.

Janet Jackson was the first choice for the halftime show but when NFL bigwigs caught a U2 show in New York City they felt the band would set the right tone for the festivities after Sept. 11.

The report says Mariah Carey and Paul McCartney also were not paid for their services, but the NFL picked up their travel expenses.