Kendrick Lamar headlined the Super Bowl LIX halftime show on February 9, 2025, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. His performance featured guest appearances from SZA, Samuel L. Jackson, Serena Williams, and DJ Mustard.
The show opened with Lamar and his dancers emerging from a 1987 Buick GNX, a car significant to Lamar as it shares his birth year and is an upgraded model of the Buick Regal his father drove when bringing him home from the hospital. The stage was designed to resemble a giant PlayStation controller, setting the scene for a dynamic performance. Samuel L. Jackson took on the role of “Uncle Sam,” providing satirical commentary between songs to illustrate the spirit of America. Lamar performed a mix of his hits, including “Humble,” “DNA,” and “All the Stars” with SZA. Before the performance of popular Drake diss “Not Like Us”, Lamar would tease the song in between every couple of songs during the set and even commented that he might get sued if he performs the track. Kendrick performed the track anyway and during “Not Like Us,” Serena Williams made a cameo appearance, performing a crip walk dance, reminiscent of her celebration after winning Olympic gold in 2012. The performance concluded with “TV Off,” featuring DJ Mustard, ending with Lamar “turning the TV off” and the words “GAME OVER” displayed through crowd wristband lights.
The Super Bowl LIX halftime show was viewed by a combined 133.5 million viewers across broadcast television and streaming platforms, surpassing previous records to become the most-watched halftime show in U.S. history.
