Kendrick Lamar has officially made history, as his 2025 Super Bowl halftime performance has become the most-watched in history, surpassing the legendary Michael Jackson’s 1993 show.
The Super Bowl 59 matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs also shattered records, drawing 127 million viewers, making it the most-watched Super Bowl game ever. The previous record was held by Super Bowl LVIII, which averaged 123.4 million viewers across all platforms.
According to Chart Data, Kendrick Lamar’s 12-minute performance racked up 133.5 million viewers, narrowly beating Michael Jackson’s 133.4 million U.S. viewers from 1993. This milestone also marks Lamar as the first solo hip-hop act to headline the Super Bowl halftime show.
Kendrick Lamar’s setlist featured some of his biggest hits, including “HUMBLE,” “Loyalty,” and “Money Trees.” The performance was introduced by Oscar-nominated actor Samuel L. Jackson, who narrated the moment as Lamar took the stage with his signature intensity.
A major highlight was Lamar bringing out SZA for a live rendition of their Grammy-nominated hit “All the Stars.” However, the biggest surprise of the night came when Kendrick performed his Drake diss track, “Not Like Us,” despite initially hinting that he wouldn’t include it.
“I want to perform their favorite song, but you know they love to sue,” Lamar quipped, referencing Drake’s lawsuit against Universal Music over the release of the song. He eventually gave the crowd what they wanted, performing the track while toning down some controversial lyrics, including the “pedophile” line.
Adding another viral moment to the night, tennis legend Serena Williams, who famously dated Drake in the past, made a surprise appearance. She was seen crip-walking on a lamp post as Lamar closed out his set, adding another layer to his ongoing rap battle with the Canadian superstar.
This record-breaking Super Bowl performance follows Kendrick Lamar’s massive Grammy wins, where he took home five awards at the 67th Grammys, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year for “Not Like Us.”
With this latest achievement, Kendrick Lamar cements his status as one of hip-hop’s most dominant forces, proving once again why he remains at the pinnacle of the industry.
