The Super Bowl Halftime show is considered entertainment’s biggest stage.
On Feb. 9, 2025, Kendrick Lamar will headline the 2025 Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime show with special guest SZA. The duo will perform live for over 80,000 spectators at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, while roughly 100 million viewers are expected to tune in from home, based on last year’s numbers from Nielsen.
“Will you be pulling up? I hope so. … I won’t want you to miss it,” the Pulitzer-winning rapper said in a video announcement in September 2024. “Wear your best dress, too, even if you watch it from home.”
This will mark Lamar’s second appearance on the halftime stage after he made a cameo in 2022 alongside Dr. Dre, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Snoop Dogg at Super Bowl LVI.
Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs are returning to the Super Bowl for the third year in a row and will face off against the Philadelphia Eagles — just like back in 2023.
From who is performing to where to watch, here’s everything to know about the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime show.
Who is performing during the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime show?
Kendrick Lamar will perform during the 2025 Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime show.
The official announcement was made in September 2024, and a few months later, Lamar revealed SZA as his special guest ahead of their upcoming Grand National Tour, which kicks off in April 2025.
“He represents the people,” SZA told Access Hollywood when asked why Lamar is the “perfect” choice for the musical event.
What has Kendrick Lamar said about his 2025 Super Bowl Halftime performance?
When news broke that Lamar was going to headline the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime show, he spoke about the importance of highlighting his kind of work.
“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 Grammy-winning artist said in a statement.
While New Orleans native Lil Wayne was disappointed that he wasn’t picked for the major gig, he understood there were other powers at play.
A few months later, Wayne was asked about Lamar’s track “wacced out murals,” which referenced the situation, and Wayne believed it wasn’t created out of malice.
“I think he saw what everyone else saw. He saw how much it meant to me. I think that’s all he means,” he said on The Skip Bayless Show in December 2024.
Wayne added, “Obviously, he can’t control that. So, he didn’t let me down. I’ve spoken to [Lamar], and I wished him all the best and told him [he] better kill it.”
What time is the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime show?
After the game between the Chiefs and Eagles kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET, the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime show will begin around 8 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. ET, shortly after the second quarter concludes.
Lamar’s performance at New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome will last anywhere from 12 to 15 minutes.
Will Kendrick Lamar get paid for the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime show?
Lamar will not be paid for his 2025 Super Bowl Halftime show performance.
However, the NFL covers all production costs, including the artist’s travel expenses.
“The halftime show at the Super Bowl remains a highly coveted spot for many artists,” entertainment attorney Lori Landew told Forbes in February 2019.
She added, “[Artists] view their live performance as an opportunity to entertain an enthusiastic crowd and to share their music and their talent with millions of viewers.”
How can I watch the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime show?
The 2025 Super Bowl Halftime show will be broadcast nationally on Fox.
Fans without a television offering the channel or a live TV subscription can stream the big game and the halftime show on Tubi for free.
Lamar’s performance will also be uploaded to the NFL’s YouTube channel shortly after the halftime show ends, like in years past.
