Madonna Super Bowl 2012: Pop Icon Booked for Super Bowl XLVI

After the NFL strayed from the traditional route by booking the Black Eyed Peas for Super Bowl XLV, it appears the league is ready to go back to featuring the classics.

Per NFL.com, Madonna has reportedly been booked for Super Bowl XLVI, joining such classics as The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Prince, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty and The Who.

The NFL has yet to confirm the report, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello saying on Monday, "We do not comment on the musical talent for the Super Bowl until we have something to announce."

It's worth noting that the NFL has tried to approach Madonna to sing at the Super Bowl halftime show twice already, in 1998 and 2000. Both times Madonna declined the offer.

Despite being 53 years old, the pop icon is still going strong, having sold 300 million albums in her career, and her presence would appeal to all age groups, as has normally been the focus for the NFL.

Last season, the NFL switched things up with the Black Eyed Peas, getting mixed reviews. For the most part, the act didn't appeal as much to the country as the previous acts had. On top of that, it was more popular with the younger audiences in general.

This isn't exactly a surprise. What's a surprise is that it's taken this long to land Madonna 11 years after the NFL's last offer. Madonna will always draw her fair share of fans, but she would have likely been more of a show earlier on.

Regardless, it appears the NFL is back to the traditional route, attempting to appeal to a mass audience and avoiding pushing the envelope.

By the way, when's the last time landing Madonna was seen as the non-controversial option?