Kendrick Lamar announces he’s headlining Super Bowl LIX halftime show: ‘Meet me in New Orleans’

Kendrick Lamar revealed Sunday morning that he will be headlining Super Bowl LIX’s Apple Music halftime show.

The 37-year-old rapper shared the announcement in an Instagram post to his 16.2 million followers, with the NFL and his management company Roc Nation sharing the news.

The surprise announcement is the latest high-profile development for the acclaim performer following his brutal public feud with fellow rapper Drake.

The 2025 performance will mark Lamar’s second time performing at the Super Bowl halftime show, but it’s his first time headlining the widely viewed performance. 

‘Rap music is still the most impactful genre to date,’ Lamar said in a statement accompanying the social media clip. ‘And I’ll be there to remind the world why. They got the right one.’

The hitmaker’s announcement also coincided with the opening Sunday of the NFL’s season, when many of the league’s teams will be playing, ensuring that fans learned of the news.

Lamar’s last trip to the Super Bowl halftime show stage was in 2022, when he joined a hip hop showcase featuring legends Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre, along with veterans Eminem and 50 Cent, as well as R&B icon Mary J. Blige.

‘Kendrick Lamar is truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer,’ Roc Nation Jay-Z added in his own statement, according to the New York Times. ‘His deep love for hip-hop and culture informs his artistic vision. He has an unparalleled ability to define and influence culture globally. Kendrick’s work transcends music, and his impact will be felt for years to come.’