Nita Strauss and Josh Villalta Rock Rams Salute to Service Halftime

By Dani Reyes, November 4, 2026

The halftime set

Guitarist Nita Strauss and drummer Josh Villalta played the halftime show at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 1, 2026, when the Los Angeles Rams hosted the Los Angeles Chargers. The game was part of the NFL's Salute to Service campaign honoring the U.S. military, and the Rams won it 24 to 9.

The pair posted the full performance to Strauss's YouTube channel on November 3.

Nita Strauss and Josh Villalta: Rams Salute to Service halftime, November 1, 2026

The medley

The video's own setlist runs through:

• The Top Gun anthem
• Metallica's "For Whom the Bell Tolls"
• Godsmack's "Awake"
• Iron Maiden's "The Trooper"
• "Danger Zone"
• Foo Fighters' "My Hero"
• Queen's "We Will Rock You" into Metallica's "Sad but True"

The announcement of the performance points to the Godsmack pick in particular, noting that "Awake" "has a longstanding connection to military recruitment advertising, making it a fitting addition to the Salute to Service celebration."

Seven seasons at SoFi

Strauss is the Rams' official guitarist, a role she lists on her own site alongside her years as Alice Cooper's touring guitarist, her work with Demi Lovato and her solo career. When the team brought her back for the 2026 season, Sports Illustrated reported it as the start of her seventh season performing at Rams games, and the first with Villalta, her husband, manager and drummer, joining her at the games. She was with the team for its Super Bowl LVI title run and has her own Super Bowl ring.

"There's only one thing better than playing your hometown stadium, and that's doing it with your partner by your side," Strauss said in a statement at the time. "Josh takes every live performance to another level and I'm so excited for the fans at SoFi to get to experience it."

This was not their first halftime slot. Strauss has posted earlier Rams halftime sets, including "Dead Inside" and a performance of "Victorious" with Dorothy and Villalta at SoFi in October 2023.

A first game for Maxwell

The couple welcomed their son, Maxwell, on May 28, People reported. According to the announcement, Sunday's show marked his first Rams game, and Strauss and Villalta "took the field together as new parents." Strauss also shared a behind the scenes video from the day.