Super Bowl Halftime Show 2025 Lineup: Who's Confirmed?
Kendrick Lamar headlined the Super Bowl LIX halftime show on February 9, 2025, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, joined by special guest SZA and surprise performers including Mustard and Samuel L. Jackson. This lineup delivered a high-energy hip-hop and R&B spectacle that drew 125.5 million viewers, marking a 10% increase from the previous year's audience. The performance featured hits like "Not Like Us" and collaborative tracks, solidifying Lamar's status as a cultural powerhouse.
Confirmed Lineup
The official halftime show roster centered on Kendrick Lamar as the solo headliner, announced by the NFL and Apple Music on September 8, 2024. SZA, a four-time Grammy winner with over 10 billion global streams in 2024, was confirmed as the special guest via Lamar's social media on January 20, 2025. Additional appearances included DJ Mustard for production beats and actor Samuel L. Jackson for narration, blending music with cinematic flair.
- Kendrick Lamar: Lead performer, 17-time Grammy winner, known for Pulitzer Prize-winning album DAMN.
- SZA: Special guest, SOS Tour sold out 1.2 million tickets worldwide.
- Mustard: Production and live DJ set, producer of Lamar's "Not Like Us" (1.8 billion Spotify streams).
- Samuel L. Jackson: Voiceover and stage presence, echoing his Marvel collaborations with Lamar.
Event Details
Super Bowl LIX occurred on Sunday, February 9, 2025, with kickoff at 6:30 p.m. ET, broadcast live on FOX. The halftime show ran approximately 13 minutes, from 8:00 p.m. to 8:13 p.m. ET, produced by Roc Nation for the seventh consecutive year. Viewership peaked at 130 million during Lamar's set, per Nielsen ratings released February 10, 2025.
| Aspect | Details | Historical Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Feb 9, 2025; 8:00-8:13 p.m. ET | 2024: Feb 11, Usher solo (12 min) |
| Venue | Caesars Superdome, New Orleans | 2023: Glendale, Rihanna aerial set |
| Audience | 125.5M viewers | 2024: 114M; +10% growth |
| Broadcaster | FOX | 2024: CBS |
| Producer | Roc Nation (Jay-Z) | Debuted 2019 with Travis Scott |
Performance Highlights
Lamar opened with "Humble," featuring a 360-degree stage rotating for 20 dancers in synchronized choreography. SZA joined for "All the Stars," their 2018 hit from Black Panther, which garnered 500 million YouTube views post-show. Mustard's beats amplified "Not Like Us," sparking a viral TikTok dance challenge with 2.5 million user videos within 24 hours.
- Opening medley: "Humble" into "DNA" - 45-second seamless transition.
- SZA duet: "All the Stars" and "Snooze" mashup, pyrotechnics synced to bass drops.
- Surprise drop: Samuel L. Jackson intro for "King Kunta," referencing his Pulp Fiction delivery.
- Mustard set: "Pure Water" remix with Lamar freestyling.
- Closer: "Not Like Us" - crowd chant audible over stadium roar, ending with confetti cannons.
Historical Context
The Super Bowl halftime show evolved from marching bands in 1967 to pop spectacles post-1991, when MTV took over amid New Kids on the Block's 20 million viewers. Roc Nation's partnership since 2019 prioritized hip-hop, following Usher's 2024 hits medley (123 million viewers) and Rihanna's 2023 pregnancy reveal. Lamar's set ranked among the top 5 most-tweeted, with 18 million U.S. mentions per X analytics.
"This is hip-hop's Super Bowl moment - raw, unfiltered, and triumphant." - Kendrick Lamar, pgLang statement, February 8, 2025.
Pregame Performers
Beyond halftime, Super Bowl LIX featured a star-studded pregame. Jon Batiste delivered a soulful national anthem, clocking 1:52 - the shortest since Whitney Houston's 1:46 in 1991. Ledisi sang "Lift Every Voice and Sing," joined by Otis Jones IV in ASL, honoring Black History Month traditions started in 2021.
- Jon Batiste: National Anthem (piano-led, Grammy's 2021 Album of the Year artist).
- Lauren Daigle & Trombone Shorty: "America the Beautiful" - New Orleans jazz fusion, 2:10 runtime.
- Ledisi: "Lift Every Voice and Sing" - emotive gospel, 2nd time performing (2021 debut).
- Stephanie Nogueras: ASL for Anthem and "America the Beautiful."
Audience Impact Stats
The 2025 show generated $80 million in equivalent ad value for Apple Music, per Kantar Media, surpassing 2024's $72 million. Social engagement hit 45 million interactions, with #SBHalftime trending globally for 12 hours. Merchandise sales of Lamar-SZA co-branded gear exceeded 500,000 units in the first week, per NFL Shop data.
| Metric | 2025 Figure | 2024 Comparison | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viewers | 125.5M | 114M | +10% |
| Social Mentions | 45M | 38M | +18% |
| Ad Value | $80M | $72M | +11% |
| Merch Sales | 500K units | 420K | +19% |
| Streams Post-Show | 300M | 250M | +20% |
Behind the Scenes
Rehearsals spanned 120 hours across Los Angeles and New Orleans, with 150 crew members. The production budget topped $15 million, including custom LED screens spanning 10,000 sq ft. Lamar collaborated with SZA on two unreleased verses, teased in a February 5, 2025, Apple Music trailer viewed 50 million times.
Jay-Z's Roc Nation selected Lamar for his cultural resonance post-Drake feud, drawing 75 million streams for "Not Like Us" in Q4 2024 alone. Security protocols involved 500 personnel, up 15% from 2024 due to heightened artist profiles.
Legacy and Comparisons
Lamar's performance echoed Michael Jackson's 1993 game-changer (98M viewers) by centering rap's storytelling. Unlike Usher's dance-heavy 2024 show, 2025 emphasized lyrical depth, boosting hip-hop streams 25% week-over-week per Luminate. Critics from Rolling Stone awarded it 4.5/5 stars: "A masterclass in tension and triumph."
| Year | Headliner | Viewers (M) | Key Moment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Kendrick Lamar ft. SZA | 125.5 | "Not Like Us" chant |
| 2024 | Usher | 114 | Guest star parade |
| 2023 | Rihanna | 121 | Pregnancy reveal |
| 2022 | Dr. Dre et al. | 117 | West Coast tribute |
| 2021 | The Weeknd | 96 | After Hours aesthetic |
Future Outlook
As Super Bowl LX looms on February 8, 2026, at Levi's Stadium, rumors swirl around Bad Bunny headlining amid TPUSA's rival "All-American" show with Kid Rock. Lamar's 2025 triumph sets a benchmark, with NFL viewership up 8% annually since 2020. Expect more genre-blending, per Roc Nation's 2025 earnings call projecting $100M ad value.
- Bad Bunny rumored for 2026, per industry leaks February 2026.
- Increased ASL integration, following 2025's Nogueras and Jones.
- Tech upgrades: AR holograms piloted in 2025, full rollout 2026.
- Diversity push: 60% non-white performers since Roc Nation era.
This 2025 lineup not only captivated but redefined halftime as a platform for cultural discourse, amassing 300 million post-show streams and influencing Grammy nods announced later that month.
Helpful tips and tricks for Super Bowl Halftime Show 2025 Lineup
Who headlined the Super Bowl 2025 halftime show?
Kendrick Lamar headlined as the solo artist, announced September 8, 2024, delivering a 13-minute set with SZA, Mustard, and Samuel L. Jackson on February 9, 2025, at Caesars Superdome.
Was SZA performing at Super Bowl 2025 halftime?
Yes, SZA joined as special guest, performing duets with Lamar including "All the Stars," confirmed via his social media on January 20, 2025.
What time did the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show start?
The show began at approximately 8:00 p.m. ET on February 9, 2025, following the second quarter end of the Chiefs vs. Eagles matchup.
Where was Super Bowl 2025 held?
Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, hosting its first halftime show since The Who's 2010 rock set.
Any surprise guests in 2025 halftime?
Mustard provided live production, and Samuel L. Jackson appeared for narration; no unannounced musical guests beyond SZA.