Kendrick Lamar performed the Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show. Fresh off the release of his recent surprise album GNX and five Grammy wins for "Not Like Us" (the same number of Grammys Drake has across his entire career), the rapper took over Caesars Superdome in New Orleans for a performance featuring previously-announced guest SZA.
Samuel L. Jackson, dressed as Uncle Sam, introduced and interjected during the show, which began with Kendrick on top of a GNX. "I want to perform their favorite song, but you know they love to sue,” the rapper said at one point, referring to Drake’s recent lawsuit against UMG. Then, when Kendrick eventually performed "Not Like Us," Drake's ex Serena Williams appeared for a brief crip walk. (K.Dot censored himself for the "pedophile" lyric, but "A minorrr" got the requisite singalong.) To close, Mustard came onstage for "tv off." The setlist also included several GNX live debuts and the second song with SZA, "All The Stars," was performed by Kendrick for the first time since 2019.
Before kickoff Lady Gaga appeared in a spot shot on Bourbon Street, performing a rendition of "Hold My Hand" from the Top Gun: Maverick soundtrack. Tom Brady, Michael Strahan, and other celebrities joined the segment, recognizing tragic recent events in the US including the North Carolina hurricane and the Los Angeles wildfires. Inside the stadium, Harry Connick Jr. led "Go To The Mardi Gras" and fellow Louisiana natives Lauren Daigle and Trombone Shorty performed "America The Beautiful." The singer Ledisi did a rendition of "Lift Every Voice And Sing." And Jon Batiste sang and played piano for the National Anthem. During the commercial breaks Post Malone, Charli XCX, and more made appearances. And yes, Taylor Swift was present to cheer on her Kansas City Chief boyfriend Travis Kelce for the second Super Bowl in a row, along with her friends Ice Spice and Haim.
After Kendrick was announced as the halftime show headliner, New Orleans native Lil Wayne expressed disappointment in not being chosen to perform: "It made me feel like shit, not getting this opportunity," he said on an Instagram livestream back in September. In the days leading up to the Super Bowl, he said he wouldn't be attending, though he did land a presumably lucrative Cetaphil ad spot.
Watch the Super Bowl Halftime Show below.
Kendrick Lamar's Full Super Bowl Halftime Show performance #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/OxZED0YXDn
— popculture (@notgwendalupe) February 10, 2025
From Compton to NOLA. @SerenaWilliams @KendrickLamar #AppleMusicHalftime pic.twitter.com/mnzuP7fJ1N
— NFL (@NFL) February 10, 2025
A man performing during the Kendrick Lamar halftime concert at #SuperBowl LIX unfurled a Palestinian flag and was chased off stage and finally tackled and removed by security. #SBLIX #Palestine pic.twitter.com/sU8jl1eyE3
— Diya TV (@DiyaTV) February 10, 2025
VIDEO: Lady Gaga performs “Hold My Hand” in New Orleans for a special #SuperBowlLIX tribute. pic.twitter.com/PDla5PtwtT
— LⱯDY GⱯGⱯ NOW🪞 (@ladygaganownet) February 9, 2025
Taylor Swift laughed off being booed at the Super Bowl 😅 pic.twitter.com/Zdc5fHKc0A
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 10, 2025
📸 | Taylor Swift, Ice Spice and HAIM sisters at the #SuperBowlLIX. pic.twitter.com/IklcxCaPFL
— The Swift Society (@TheSwiftSociety) February 10, 2025
Serena crip walked for 4 seconds and gained more yards than the Chiefs in the entire first half
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) February 10, 2025
SETLIST:
"Bodies" (GNX teaser)
"squabble up"
"Humble"
"DNA"
"euphoria"
"man at the garden"
"peekaboo"
"luther" (With SZA)
"All The Stars" (With SZA)
"Not Like Us"
"tv off" (With Mustard)
