Kendrick Lamar teases his Super Bowl performance
Grammy award-winning artist Kendrick Lamar reveals what to expect from his upcoming Super Bowl halftime show.
Entertain This!
There was more than a fair share of mustard in the Super Bowl 59 halftime show.
When the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs headed to their respective locker rooms on Sunday night, Kendrick Lamar took the stage for an electrifying performance as the headlining act for this year’s Super Bowl halftime show.
Lamar was already on a proverbial heater. Fresh off winning five Grammy awards, the Compton native took his talents to the bayou alongside SZA. He performed some of his biggest and most recognizable rap hits, including “Not Like Us,” the Drake-aimed diss track that blew up radios and streaming services in 2024.
In total, Lamar performed five songs from “GNX,” his latest album that released in November. He also performed “HUMBLE.” and “DNA.” off of 2017 album “DAMN.”
R&B singer-songwriter SZA joined Lamar on stage in New Orleans for two of the songs they collaborated on as well: “luther” from “GNX” and “All the Stars” from 2018’s Black Panther soundtrack.
USA TODAY Sports covered all the highlights from the halftime show below, from the lead-up to the reaction. All times are Eastern.
There were hundreds of thousands, if not millions of reactions to Lamar’s halftime show on social media. Here were some of the best ones:
Here’s the full list of songs Lamar performed at the Super Bowl halftime show in New Orleans, in order:
- Unreleased song
- squabble up
- HUMBLE.
- DNA.
- man at the garden
- peekaboo
- luther (with SZA)
- All the Stars (with SZA)
- Not Like Us
- tv off
The retired tennis superstar was shown on the broadcast dancing along to her fellow Compton, California native’s halftime show performance of “Not Like Us.”
Lamar closed out a 10-song set list with “tv off,” one of the biggest songs from “GNX,” his recent album release. He grinned at the camera as the grand finale finished.
A few songs after his initial preview of performing the hit song, Lamar finally performed an abridged and censored version of “Not Like Us.” The crowd in New Orleans sang along with the “A Minor” line, which was audible on Fox’s broadcast.
R&B singer-songwriter SZA joined Lamar to perform “luther,” a song on Lamar’s latest album, “GNX.” After “luther,” the two performed “All the Stars,” their song together from 2018’s Black Panther Soundtrack.
Lamar played a small instrumental sample from last year’s hit song, though he didn’t ultimately perform the full Drake diss track, at least initially.
Lamar followed “squabble up” with two songs from previous album DAMN.: “HUMBLE.” and “DNA.”
The first part of Lamar’s halftime show performance was not one of his biggest songs, but instead a snippet of a song he has yet to release. After that, he performed “squabble up,” the second track on his latest album, “GNX.”
Jackson opened the show as “Uncle Sam” and welcomed viewers to Lamar’s halftime show.
- Start time rough estimate: 8-8:30 p.m. ET
There is no set start time for the halftime show, as the performers are at the mercy of the players on the field. Depending on the team’s pace of play, the start time can be earlier or later.
A run heavy game script can see the first half fly by, but injuries or any other stoppage will likely come with a commercial break, which isn’t always the case in a regular season game.
If you’re only tuning in for halftime, check back in around 7:30 p.m. ET to see where things stand.
How to watch the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show
- TV channel:Â Fox
- Streaming:Â Fubo, Tubi, DirecTV Stream, Sling TV, YouTube TV, Hulu with Live TV
Stream Super Bowl 59 with a Fubo subscription
Super Bowl 59 halftime show’s special guests
The NFL announced on social media that SZA will join Kendrick Lamar as a guest performer at the Caesars Superdome during the Super Bowl 59 halftime show.
Lamar has not announced a Super Bowl halftime show setlist, and he likely does not plan to.Â
However, there are some songs that are likely features in his upcoming performance. “Not Like Us,” Lamar’s biggest song from his rap beef with Drake, is a near-lock to be included in the setlist.Â
Outside of that, songs like “squabble up” and “tv off” from his most recent album, “GNX,” are also strong contenders. Among Lamar’s most frequently performed songs on tour are “HUMBLE.” from his fourth studio album, “DAMN.” and “Alright” from his third album, “To Pimp a Butterfly.” Those are also likely inclusions for his Super Bowl performance in New Orleans.Â
In a shock to many, the NFL has said that it does not pay artists to perform during the 12-minute halftime show; however, it does cover the expenses and production costs associated with the performance. Artists’ reasons for performing may vary, but they can use the opportunity for additional exposure, which can lead to a spike in their music across various streaming platforms. Approximately 83,000 fans will fill the Caesars Superdome, while more than 100 million viewers across the country will watch the game.Â
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth hails from Compton, California, where he started rapping in high school using the stage name K-Dot. His parents named him after Eddie Kendricks, a singer from the legendary group The Temptations.Â
Lamar’s early mixtapes gained the attention of rapper, record producer and entrepreneur Dr. Dre. After the release of his successful debut album, “Good Kid, m.A.A.d City,” in 2012, Lamar’s career took off.Â
He has gone on to release six studio albums and has topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart five times in his career: “Bad Blood” (2015), a collaboration with Taylor Swift; “Humble” (2017); “Like That” featuring Future and Metro Boomin (2024); “Not Like Us” (2024), a diss track aimed at fellow rapper Drake; and “Squabble Up” (2024).Â
Lamar is a 17-time Grammy Award winner and, in 2018, he became the first artist in his genre to win a Pulitzer Prize.Â
The NFL announced in September that Kendrick Lamar will headline the Super Bowl 59 halftime show.Â
“Rap music is still the most impactful genre to date. And I’ll be there to remind the world why,” Lamar said in a statement at the time of the announcement. “They got the right one.”Â
Lamar announced earlier this week on social media that fellow Grammy Award-winning artist SZA will join him as an exceptional guest performer at the Caesars Superdome for the Super Bowl halftime show.Â
Lamar is a native of Compton, California.Â
Lamar has never been the sole headliner at the Super Bowl halftime show before, though he has been on stage for a previous halftime show performance.Â
During the Super Bowl 56 halftime show in Los Angeles three years ago, Lamar performed alongside other West Coast and rap/R&B icons: Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem and Mary J. Blige. Anderson .Paak and 50 Cent also made appearances.Â
Lamar is 37 years old. He will turn 38 on June 17.Â
Lamar indicates that he is 5-foot-5 in his 2022 song “Savior.”Â
“I’ma stand on it, 6’5″ from 5’5″,” he raps.Â
In the context of the song, Lamar is saying he stands on his beliefs rather than “back pedal[ing]” when confronted. This ability to “stand on it,” he says, elevates his smaller stature by a full foot.Â
Lamar and his partner Whitney Alford, are a very private couple, so their marital status is not currently clear.Â
What is known is that he and Alford were high school sweethearts and have been engaged since 2015, which he confirmed in an interview on “The Breakfast Club” radio show on Power 105.1.Â
Lamar has six studio albums in total, in addition to a self-title EP, five mixtapes, one compilation album and a movie soundtrack (for “Black Panther” [2016]).Â
These are the six studio albums, listed in order of release:Â
- “Section.80” (2011)Â
- “good kid, m.A.A.d city” (2012)Â
- “To Pimp a Butterfly” (2015)Â
- “DAMN.” (2017)Â
- “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers” (2022)Â
- “GNX” (2024)Â
“Not Like Us,” Lamar’s hit song from last May, set the record for most single-day streams for a hip-hop song (12.8 million) and most streams in a week by a rapper (81.2 million) when it first came out.Â
In mid-January, the single hit one billion streams on Spotify, and, as of the time of writing, it’s at 1.04 billion streams on the platform.Â
In 2018, Lamar was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music for his album “DAMN.” It was the first piece of music outside of the classical or jazz genres to win the award.Â
Lamar is set to begin a North American tour for his new album, “GNX,” on April 19 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.Â
Titled the “Grand National Tour,” it will feature both Lamar and R&B singer/songwriter SZA, who has been a longtime collaborator with the rapper.Â
Here’s how the list breaks down dating back to 2000:Â
2024, Super Bowl LVIII: Usher (Allegiant Stadium; Las Vegas, NV)Â
2023, Super Bowl LVII: Rihanna (State Farm Stadium; Glendale, AZ)Â
2022, Super Bowl LVI: Eminem, Dr. Dre., Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar and Mary J. Blige featuring 50 Cent and Anderson .Paak (SoFi Stadium; Inglewood, CA)Â
2021, Super Bowl LV: The Weeknd (Raymond James Stadium; Tampa, FL)Â
2020, Super Bowl LIV: Shakira and Jennifer Lopez featuring Bad Bunny, J Balvin and Emme Muniz (Hard Rock Stadium; Miami Gardens, FL)Â
2019, Super Bowl III: Maroon 5, Travis Scott, Big Boi (Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA)Â
2018, Super Bowl LII: Justin Timberlake featuring The Tennessee Kids (U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN)Â
2017, Super Bowl LI: Lady Gaga (NRG Stadium; Houston, TX)Â
2016, Super Bowl 50: Coldplay featuring Beyoncé and Bruno Mars (Levi’s Stadium; Santa Clara, CA)Â
2015, Super Bowl XLIX: Katy Perry featuring Lenny Kravitz and Missy Elliott (University of Phoenix Stadium; Glendale, AZ)Â
2014, Super Bowl XLVIII: Bruno Mars featuring Red Hot Chili Peppers (MetLife Stadium; East Rutherford, NJ)Â
2013, Super Bowl XLVII: Beyoncé featuring Destiny’s Child (Mercedes-Benz Superdome; New Orleans, LA)Â
2012, Super Bowl XLVI: Madonna featuring LMFAO, Cirque du Soleil, Nicki Minaj, M.I.A and CeeLo Green (Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN)Â
2011, Super Bowl XLV: The Black Eyed Peas featuring Usher and Slash (Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, TX)Â
2010, Super Bowl XLIV: The Who (Sun Life Stadium; Miami Gardens, FL)Â
2009, Super Bowl XLIII: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (Raymond James Stadium; Tampa, FL)Â
2008, Super Bowl XLII: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (University of Phoenix Stadium; Glendale, AZ)Â
2007, Super Bowl XLI: Prince featuring the Florida A&M marching band (Dolphin Stadium; Miami Gardens, FL)Â
2009, Super Bowl XLIII: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (Raymond James Stadium; Tampa, FL)Â
2008, Super Bowl XLII: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (University of Phoenix Stadium; Glendale, AZ)Â
2007, Super Bowl XLI: Prince featuring the Florida A&M marching band (Dolphin Stadium; Miami Gardens, FL)Â
2006, Super Bowl XL: The Rolling Stones (Ford Field, Detroit, MI)Â
2005, Super Bowl XXXIX: Paul McCartney (Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, FL)Â
2004, Super Bowl XXXVIII: Janet Jackson, Kid Rock, P. Diddy, Nelly and Justin Timberlake (Reliant Stadium; Houston, TX)Â
2003, Super Bowl XXXVII: Shania Twain and No Doubt featuring Sting (Qualcomm Stadium; San Diego, CA)Â
2002, Super Bowl XXXVI: ”Tribute to those killed in the September 11 attacks” featuring U2 (Louisiana Superdome; New Orleans, LA)Â
2001, Super Bowl XXXV: ”The Kings of Rock and Pop” featuring Aerosmith, ‘N’Sync, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige and Nelly (Raymond James Stadium; Tampa, FL)Â
2000, Super Bowl XXXIV: ”A Tapestry of Nations” featuring Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, Toni Braxton and an 80-person choir (Georgia Dome; Atlanta, GA)Â
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.