The Shocking Truth About Who Did The Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show: The Full Kendrick Lamar & SZA Breakdown
The question of "who is doing the Super Bowl Halftime Show" is arguably one of the most anticipated annual announcements in global entertainment, and for Super Bowl LIX, the answer delivered one of the most instantly legendary, yet highly polarizing, performances in the event's history. As of late December 2025, the cultural conversation is still buzzing about the electrifying and politically charged set that took place on February 9, 2025, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. Headlined by hip-hop icon Kendrick Lamar, the show was a masterclass in theatrical performance, featuring a stunning stage design, a powerful medley of hits, and some truly unexpected special guests that ignited fierce debate across social media and traditional media alike. This is the definitive, in-depth look at the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show.
The NFL and Apple Music officially announced the headliner for the 59th Super Bowl on September 8, 2024, confirming Compton native Kendrick Lamar Duckworth, universally known as Kendrick Lamar, would take the coveted stage. The selection received a passionate but divided response, setting the stage for a performance that was destined to be anything but ordinary. Lamar’s decision to bring along a confirmed guest performer, singer-songwriter SZA, only amplified the anticipation for a show rooted deeply in contemporary, critically acclaimed music.
Kendrick Lamar and SZA: A Profile in Excellence
The Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show was anchored by two of the most critically revered artists of the modern era, Kendrick Lamar and SZA. Their combined star power and history of creating genre-defining music guaranteed a performance steeped in artistic integrity and cultural commentary.
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth: The Pulitzer-Winning Rapper
- Full Name: Kendrick Lamar Duckworth
- Born: June 17, 1987 (Age 38 as of late 2025)
- Birthplace: Compton, California, U.S.
- Occupation: Rapper, Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer
- Key Albums: good kid, m.A.A.d city (2012), To Pimp a Butterfly (2015), DAMN. (2017), Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers (2022)
- Major Awards: 22-time Grammy Award winner, including three Best Rap Album awards.
- Historic Achievement: DAMN. became the first non-classical or non-jazz album to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2018.
- Career Highlight (2024-2025): Lamar’s recent career has been dominated by his high-profile, highly-publicized rap feud, which included the viral hit "Not Like Us," a track widely predicted to feature in the Halftime Show. He also swept all five categories he was nominated for at the 2025 Grammys, carrying that momentum into the Super Bowl.
Solána Imani Rowe: The R&B Trailblazer
- Stage Name: SZA (pronounced SIZ-uh)
- Full Name: Solána Imani Rowe
- Born: November 8, 1989 (Age 36 as of late 2025)
- Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
- Occupation: Singer, Songwriter
- Key Albums: Ctrl (2017), SOS (2022)
- Major Awards: Multiple Grammy Awards, including Best Progressive R&B Album.
- Impact: A defining voice in contemporary R&B, known for her candid, stream-of-consciousness lyrics and blend of hip-hop, soul, and lo-fi aesthetics. Her album SOS dominated charts and critical discourse in the years leading up to her Halftime Show appearance.
The Halftime Show Performance: From 'HUMBLE.' to High Drama
Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX performance was a tightly choreographed, 13-minute spectacle that maximized the cultural moment. The show was produced by Roc Nation, with Apple Music serving as the title sponsor. The entire set was a medley of Lamar’s biggest hits, designed to take the audience on a journey through his illustrious catalog.
The set began with a powerful statement, featuring a large ensemble of dancers and a stage that incorporated American flag imagery. Lamar took center stage, delivering a high-energy rendition of his track “Squabble Up,” followed by the critically acclaimed “DNA.” The crowd inside the Caesars Superdome was electric, and the millions watching at home were instantly drawn into the visual intensity of the performance.
A major highlight was the confirmation of the guest performer, SZA, who joined Lamar for a soulful and dynamic duet of their collaboration "Luther." SZA also performed a snippet of one of her own chart-topping hits, "Kill Bill," showcasing her vocal prowess and providing a smooth contrast to Lamar’s intense rap flow. The seamless transition between the artists underscored their collaborative history and mutual respect.
The Unscripted (or Was It?) Interruption
The most talked-about moment of the entire Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show was the appearance of two unexpected public figures: legendary actor Samuel L. Jackson and tennis superstar Serena Williams. Williams’s role was brief but significant, featuring in a short video vignette about the power of music.
However, it was Samuel L. Jackson’s appearance that truly sent shockwaves. Dressed in a stylized "Uncle Sam" costume, Jackson interrupted the performance, shouting lines that were immediately controversial. He called the dancers and the music "too loud, too reckless, too ghetto" in a theatrical skit that many interpreted as a commentary on the mainstream reception of hip-hop culture. Lamar’s immediate response was to transition into one of his biggest hits, “HUMBLE.,” performing it on a massive, rising staircase, effectively reclaiming the stage and the narrative. This bold, dramatic choice was either a brilliant piece of meta-commentary or a jarring distraction, depending on who you asked.
The Polarizing Reaction: 'Worst' vs. 'Sensational'
The performance, featuring a medley of tracks like “King Kunta,” “Family Ties,” and the highly anticipated “Not Like Us,” resulted in an immediate and intense split in critical and public opinion. The reaction was so divided that the phrase "polarizing Super Bowl performance" became a dominant trend.
The Critics’ Divide
On one side, critics hailed the show as "Absolutely Sensational" and an "Instantly Legendary" moment for hip-hop on the biggest stage. They praised Lamar's technical skill, the high-concept production, and the unapologetic cultural statement. The performance was seen as a powerful, artistic expression that cemented Lamar’s place as a generational talent.
On the other side, the reaction was brutally negative. Some viewers and media outlets labeled it the "Worst Halftime Show of All Time." Common criticisms included technical issues, particularly the inability to clearly make out Lamar's vocals at times, and the rapid-fire setlist that felt too disjointed for a mass audience. Furthermore, the political undertones and the inclusion of tracks like "Not Like Us"—a song deeply embedded in a specific rap beef—alienated some traditional football fans.
The Political Firestorm and the 'DEI Halftime Show' Label
The polarization was significantly amplified by political commentary. The show's themes and the inclusion of Jackson’s controversial "too ghetto" skit led to a backlash from some conservative commentators. Certain critics went as far as labeling the event a "DEI halftime show," a term that spurred intense debate about the intersection of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives with mainstream entertainment. This political digestion of the performance proved that Lamar succeeded in his likely goal: to make a statement that extended far beyond the music itself.
In the end, the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show was a quintessential Kendrick Lamar event: brilliant, complex, controversial, and unforgettable. Whether you loved it or hated it, the performance by Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Samuel L. Jackson, and Serena Williams will be discussed for years to come, confirming the show's status as a major cultural flashpoint in 2025.
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