The beginning of the 21st century saw Aerosmith spotlight at the
Super Bowl XXXV Halftime Show, be inducted into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and release another platinum album.
Since 2001, Aerosmith has launched a successful tour every year and has maintained an active role in the music industry, recording the albums
Just Push Play (2001) and
Honkin' on Bobo (2004). In addition to this, Steven Tyler has kept busy with a variety of side projects and guest appearances.
On
27 May, 2001, at the
85th Indianapolis 500, Steven Tyler sang the national anthem of the USA. He came under criticism when he replaced "home of the brave'" with "home of the Indianapolis 500." He immediately apologized and reaffirmed his patriotism after the incident.
After the
September 11, 2001 attacks, the band performed at the benefit concert "United We Stand" in
Washington, D.C.. Tyler donned a full-length jacket featuring the American flag and the band performed a brief set including the moving numbers "
Livin' on the Edge" and "
I Don't Want to Miss a Thing", which seemed to take on new meaning in wake of the attacks. Amazingly, the band flew back to
Indianapolis to perform a show that same night.
In December 2002, Steven Tyler played
Santa on a holiday episode of the children's television show
Lizzie McGuire. He also performed the song "
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town." This was also the last episode of Lizzie McGuire that was shot.
In
2003, Tyler received an honorary degree from
Berklee College of Music, and, in
2005, received an honorary doctorate from the
University of Massachusetts Boston. In 2003, Tyler also inducted
AC/DC into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, after he and his band were inducted two years earlier. Tyler sang with AC/DC frontman
Brian Johnson for a performance of "
You Shook Me All Night Long."
In 2004, Tyler appeared in a television commercial for
Sony digital cameras. "The Grind", from Aerosmith's
Honkin' on Bobo, is also featured.
The 2004 Christmas movie
The Polar Express featured Steven Tyler singing the lyrics to a rocking number entitled "Rockin' on Top of the World" as well as a group of computer-animated
elves resembling Aerosmith performing the song.
While
Joe Perry kept busy in
2005 with his self-titled solo album, Steven Tyler kept busy with a variety of projects. That year, he sang lead vocals on
Santana's hit single "
Just Feel Better". Tyler also cameoed in the film
Be Cool which stars
John Travolta and
Uma Thurman. In the film, Steven Tyler does a duo of "
Cryin'" with upcoming singer Linda Moon (played by
Christina Milian).
In 2006, after healing from throat surgery and the grueling
Rockin' the Joint Tour, Steven Tyler came back better than ever. One noteworthy event was when he performed with Joe Perry and the
Boston Pops Orchestra for the orchestra's annual Fourth of July spectacular, his first major public appearance since the surgery. During the concert, which was broadcast nationally on CBS, Tyler, Perry, and the orchestra performed a medley of "
Walk This Way", "
I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" and "
Dream On".
Tyler also recorded a duet with country music artist
Keith Anderson, titled "Three Chord Country and American Rock & Roll". The song, a remixed version of a song found on Anderson's debut album, was released as a single on the U.S.
Hot Country Songs charts.
Later that year, in addition to working with Aerosmith by touring and recording a new album, Tyler made several more public appearances. He made a cameo appearance on the
sitcom Two and a Half Men, playing himself as a noisy, obnoxious neighbor. On
October 14, 2006 Tyler sang "
God Bless America" during the seventh inning stretch at Game #3 of the
National League Championship Series between the
St. Louis Cardinals and the
New York Mets at
Busch Stadium in
St. Louis, Missouri. On
November 24, Steven volunteered by serving Thanksgiving dinner to the needy at a restaurant in
West Palm Beach, Florida before an Aerosmith show there.