Kendrick Lamar Set to Headline Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show
In a significant announcement for music and sports fans alike, Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar will headline the Super Bowl LIX halftime show. The news was revealed by Lamar on Sunday via his social media platforms, a development that was also confirmed by the NFL.
In a statement, Lamar expressed his excitement: “Rap music is still the most impactful genre to date. And I’ll be there to remind the world why. They got the right one.”
Super Bowl LIX is scheduled for February 9, 2025, in New Orleans and will be broadcast live on FOX. The announcement comes on the first Sunday of the 2024-2025 regular NFL season, a collaborative effort between the NFL, Roc Nation, and Apple Music.
Kendrick Lamar, known for his hit “Not Like Us,” previously made an appearance at the Super Bowl halftime show in 2022, where he performed alongside notable artists including Eminem, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, and 50 Cent. However, this upcoming performance will mark Lamar’s first time headlining the prestigious halftime show, which attracts millions of viewers every year.
Jay-Z, whose company Roc Nation will serve as the strategic entertainment advisor for Lamar’s performance, praised the rapper in a statement, calling him “truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer.” He emphasized Lamar’s profound connection to hip-hop, stating, “His deep love for hip-hop and culture informs his artistic vision. He has an unparalleled ability to define and influence culture globally. Kendrick’s work transcends music, and his impact will be felt for years to come.”
Lamar is a highly decorated artist in the hip-hop genre, having won 17 Grammy Awards and earned a Pulitzer Prize for his acclaimed 2017 album “Damn,” making him the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to receive this prestigious recognition. His fifth studio album, “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers,” was released in 2022, featuring the hit track “Like That,” a collaboration with Future and Metro Boomin, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks. Additionally, his song “Not Like Us,” launched in April amid a rumored feud with rapper Drake, also achieved the No. 1 position on the chart for two weeks.
Last year’s Super Bowl halftime show was headlined by Usher, whose performance became the most-watched halftime show in history, attracting an average of 123.4 million viewers, as reported by Billboard. Rihanna’s 2023 performance follows closely as the second-most watched, drawing 121 million viewers.
The Kansas City Chiefs triumphed over the San Francisco 49ers in a thrilling Super Bowl LVIII, which was noted as the most-watched American television broadcast in a generation by CBS.
This story has been updated with additional information.