INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 13: Kendrick Lamar performs in the Pepsi Halftime Show during the … [+] NFL Super Bowl LVI football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on February 13, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
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Super Bowl LIX is happening tonight, with the Kansas City Chiefs set to face the Philadelphia Eagles for the second time in three years. But the excitement goes beyond the game itself; this year’s biggest sporting event also serves as a major stage for music and entertainment.
Before kickoff at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, the Super Bowl’s Pregame Show will honor the “rich musical legacy of New Orleans and the entire state,” according to Seth Dudowsky, head of music at the NFL. “The Super Bowl is a rare moment to unite fans around the world, and this year’s performers will bring the energy, soul and vibrant sounds of the region to a global stage, as we kickoff Super Bowl LIX with a celebration to remember.”
ForbesWhat Time Is The Super Bowl Halftime Show? How To Watch Kendrick LamarBy Monica MercuriThen there’s the supersized Halftime Show, which has hosted some of the world’s most famous artists, from Michael Jackson and Beyoncé to Prince and Lady Gaga. (Jackson’s 1993 performance played a key role in shifting halftime entertainment from marching bands to popular musicians.)
Some Super Bowl performances have made a lasting impact for both positive and controversial reasons, from Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake’s infamous “Nipplegate” incident in 2004 to Whitney Houston’s iconic 1991 rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” widely regarded as one of the greatest national anthem performances in history.
Who Is Performing At The 2025 Super Bowl?
Take a look at all the confirmed Super Bowl LIX performers for the pre-game and halftime show below.
Kendrick Lamar – Super Bowl Halftime Show (Headliner)
LOS ANGELES – FEBRUARY 2: Kendrick Lamar poses with the Record Of The Year, Best Rap Performance, … [+] Song Of The Year, Best Music Video, Best Rap Song at The 67th Annual Grammy Awards, airing live from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, Sunday, Feb. 2 (8:00-11:30 PM, live ET/5:00-8:30 PM, live PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming live and on demand on Paramount+.* (Photo by Phil McCarten/CBS via Getty Images)
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Superstar rapper Kendrick Lamar is headlining the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show, marking his second appearance on the NFL’s biggest stage. He previously performed at the 2022 Super Bowl in Los Angeles alongside hip-hop icons Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and more.
When asked at a Feb. 6 press conference what viewers can expect from his performance, he responded: “Storytelling. I think I’ve always been very open about storytelling through all my catalog and my history of music. And I’ve always had a passion about bringing that on whatever stage I’m on.”
Lamar’s upcoming set comes on the heels of his successful night at the 67th Grammy Awards, where he took home five awards—including Best Music Video, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year—for his Drake diss track “Not Like Us.”
What could Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show setlist look like?
In addition to his chart-topper “Not Like Us,” Lamar’s setlist could feature GNX singles “TV Off” and “Squabble Up,” along with fan favorites like “DNA.” and “HUMBLE.” mixed with oldies like “Money Trees,” “M.A.A.D. City,” “King Kunta,” “Alright,” and more.
SZA – Super Bowl Halftime Show (Special Guest)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 02: SZA attends the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena … [+] on February 02, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Grammy-winning R&B artist SZA will join Lamar during the halftime show. The two have collaborated on “All the Stars” from the Black Panther soundtrack and “Luther” from Lamar’s latest album, GNX. The musicians will hit the road for their upcoming Grand National Tour in April.
“What I can say is he’s worked really hard on it, and I’m so honored to be a part of it,” SZA told reporters about the performance in the press room at the Grammys last Sunday.
Who else could perform tonight with Kendrick Lamar?
While SZA is the only confirmed guest so far, Lamar might surprise the crowd with more artists. Future and Metro Boomin could join him to perform their recent Billboard Hot 100 hit, “Like That,” or he could reunite with his former Black Hippy groupmates ScHoolboy Q, Jay Rock, and Ab-Soul.
Though unlikely, Taylor Swift—who will be in attendance to support her boyfriend, Travis Kelce—could take the stage for a “Bad Blood” duet with Lamar. They originally released the remix in 2014 for Swift’s album 1989 and re-released the track in 2023 for 1989 (Taylor’s Version).
ForbesWho Is Singing The National Anthem At The 2025 Super Bowl?By Monica MercuriJon Batiste – “Star Spangled Banner”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 04: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Jon Batiste attends the 66th GRAMMY … [+] Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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Singer-songwriter Jon Batiste will perform the national anthem at the 2025 Super Bowl. The Juilliard alum served as the bandleader and musical director on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert from 2015 to 2022 with his band, Stay Human. Batiste has earned five Grammy Awards from 20 nominations, including a 2022 Album of the Year win for We Are.
Batiste told Page Six he is “always going to represent” his hometown of New Orleans. The singer also said he wants there to be a “consideration of what the song — what an anthem is [and] what it means to sing that song.”
“It’s always a good thing to represent the best of who we are, and it’s important to have songs and symbols that represent that but when you get to a point where there’s conflict in that regard, it’s an interesting place for an artist to stand,” he explained.
Ledisi – “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 24: Ledisi performs onstage at the 2018 BET Awards at Microsoft Theater on … [+] June 24, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)
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R&B and jazz legend Ledisi will perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” also referred to as “The Black National Anthem,” at Super Bowl LIX. The Grammy-winning vocalist, who was raised in New Orleans, is also an actress, having portrayed gospel legend Mahalia Jackson twice—first in the 2014 biopic Selma and later in the 2022 musical drama Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story. She also played Patti LaBelle in BET’s American Soul.
Trombone Shorty – “America the Beautiful”
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JUNE 02: Trombone Shorty performs during the 2024 Roots Picnic at The … [+] Mann on June 02, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images for Live Nation Urban)
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Trombone Shorty is performing “America the Beautiful” at the 2025 Super Bowl, following in the footsteps of Post Malone, who sang an acoustic version in 2024. The New Orleans native is also a five-time Grammy winner who has collaborated with artists like Pharrell, Bruno Mars, Mark Ronson, Foo Fighters, ZHU, Zac Brown, Normani, and Ringo Starr.
Lauren Daigle – “America the Beautiful”
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JUNE 02: Lauren Daigle performs onstage during the 7th Annual K-LOVE Fan … [+] Awards at The Grand Ole Opry House on June 2, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for K-LOVE Fan Awards)
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Christian singer Lauren Daigle will join musician Trombone Shorty to perform “America the Beautiful” during the Super Bowl Pre-Game show at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Her 2018 album, Look Up Child, spent 44 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Christian Albums chart. Its lead single, “You Say,” also broke records. Both the song and the album won awards at the 2019 Grammys.
Human Jukebox Marching Band
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JANUARY 15: Members of the Southern University Human Jukebox band perform during … [+] The HBCU Culture Homecoming Fest & Battle Of The Bands MLK Weekend Edition at State Farm Arena on January 15, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
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The Human Jukebox Marching Band from Southern University, an HBCU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is set to play during the Super Bowl Pregame Show. Director of Bands Kedric Taylor made the announcement on The Jennifer Hudson Show. The Human Jukebox has previously performed in national parades, halftime shows and music videos.
Super Bowl ASL Performers
Stephanie Nogueras and Otis Jones at the Super Bowl LIX Pregame + Apple Music Halftime Show Press … [+] Conference on February 06, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images)
Billboard via Getty Images
Actor Stephanie Nogueras will perform the national anthem and “America the Beautiful” in American Sign Language, while Otis Jones IV will sign “Lift Every Voice and Sing” in ASL. Matt Maxey will provide the ASL rendition of Kendrick Lamar’s halftime performance.
The Super Bowl is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. ET on Fox.
