Madonna: 'Super Bowl is the most nerve-racking thing I've ever done'

Madonna has admitted that she's very nervous to perform at the Super Bowl half-time show on Sunday (February 5).

The 'Give Me All Your Luvin' singer will follow in the footsteps of artists such as Bruce Springsteen, The Black Eyed Peas and The Who when she takes to the stage during the NFL Championship game between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants.

Madonna told Tonight Show host Jay Leno on Monday (January 30) that performing for millions of television viewers is an intimidating prospect.

"It's the most nerve-racking thing I've ever done," the popstar declared. "The Super Bowl is like the Holy of Holies of America… And I have to go on in the middle of that 'Holy of Holies' and put on the greatest show that was ever put on."

Leno also quizzed Madonna on whether NFL officials had put any restrictions on her Super Bowl performance.

"Well, for sure no nipples," Madonna joked, adding: "But I wasn't gonna go there. I mean, I don't like to repeat myself."

Madonna broke down into tears while discussing the pressure of starring in the Super Bowl half-time show last week.

She also spoke of the incredible "challenge" of mounting the gig: "I have eight minutes to set up my stage, 12 minutes to put on the greatest show on Earth and seven minutes to take it down so the football field is clean for the second half.

"That's the challenge. How do you do that?"

Elton John recently offered Madonna advice on her Super Bowl half-time show by urging her to lip-synch.

"You have to play live, but I don't think [Madonna] can. In all fairness to everyone who's done one before, [she] may be able to sing live, but it's really hard to play live," John said this week.

Kelly Clarkson will open the Super Bowl with a performance of the US National Anthem.

Super Bowl XLVI airs Sunday, February 5 on NBC.

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Watch Madonna discuss the Super Bowl on The Tonight Show below: