Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar will headline the halftime show for Super Bowl LIX, set to take place on February 9, 2025, in New Orleans. The announcement was made on Sunday via Lamar’s social media and confirmed by the NFL.
In a statement, Lamar highlighted the significance of rap music, stating, “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.”
The halftime show, which will be broadcast on FOX, marks Lamar’s debut as a solo headliner. He previously appeared at the Super Bowl LV halftime show in 2022, performing alongside Eminem, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, and 50 Cent.
The news was revealed by the NFL, Roc Nation, and Apple Music on the first Sunday of the 2024-2025 NFL season. Jay-Z, whose Roc Nation is handling the strategic direction of Lamar’s performance, praised Lamar as a “once-in-a-generation artist and performer.” Jay-Z noted, “His deep love for hip-hop and culture informs his artistic vision. He has an unparalleled ability to define and influence culture globally.”
Lamar, a celebrated figure in hip-hop, has won 17 Grammy Awards and received a Pulitzer Prize for his 2017 album “Damn,” becoming the first non-classical, non-jazz artist to win the prestigious award. His fifth studio album, “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers,” was released in 2022, and his track “Like That,” a collaboration with Future and Metro Boomin, topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks. His April release, “Not Like Us,” also reached No. 1, spending two weeks at the top amid a publicized rivalry with rapper Drake.
Last year’s halftime show headliner, Usher, delivered a record-setting performance with 123.4 million viewers, according to Billboard, making it the most-watched halftime show ever. Rihanna’s 2023 performance follows closely behind, drawing 121 million viewers.
Super Bowl LVIII, which featured the Kansas City Chiefs defeating the San Francisco 49ers, was noted as the most-watched American television broadcast in a generation, as reported by CBS.
