Expect more than a fair share of mustard to be added to the Super Bowl 59 halftime show.
When the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs head to their respective locker rooms on Sunday night, Kendrick Lamar will take the stage as the headlining act for this year’s Super Bowl halftime show.
Lamar is on a proverbial heater. Fresh off winning five Grammy awards, the Compton native takes his talents to the bayou alongside SZA to perform some of music’s most recognizable rap hits; that includes “Not Like Us,” the Drake-aimed diss track that blew up radios and streaming services in 2024.
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It won’t be the first time that Lamar will be on one of the biggest televised stages during his illustrious rap career. He made an appearance in his hometown of Los Angeles as part of the Super Bowl 56 halftime show alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, 50 Cent and Mary J. Blige.
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This time, though, K.Dot will be the star of the show, and he’ll look to bring a little euphoria to the masses – much to the chagrin of Drake.
USA TODAY Sports will cover all the highlights from the halftime show below, from the lead-up to the reaction. All times are Eastern.
What time is the Super Bowl 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: Fox
- Streaming: 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.
Kendrick Lamar Super Bowl setlist
Lamar has not announced a Super Bowl halftime show setlist, and he likely does not plan to.
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.
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.
How much is Kendrick Lamar getting paid for the Super Bowl halftime show?
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.
Who is Kendrick Lamar?
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.
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.
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).
Lamar is a 17-time Grammy Award winner and, in 2018, he became the first artist in his genre to win a Pulitzer Prize.
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