Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show Becomes the Most Watched in History
Kendrick Lamar continues to break records, with his Super Bowl Halftime Show officially becoming the most-watched performance in the game’s history. According to newly released data, the Apple Music-sponsored show on Sunday, February 9, amassed a staggering 133.5 million viewers, surpassing the previous record set by Michael Jackson’s 1993 performance (133 million).
This marks a three percent increase from last year’s show featuring Usher and further solidifies Kendrick’s dominance as a cultural force. FOX Sports also confirmed that Super Bowl LVIX itself became the most-watched game in history, with an average of 126 million viewers and a peak of 135.7 million during the second quarter.
A Cinematic and Theatrical Performance
Kendrick’s performance was meticulously crafted to be more than just a standard halftime show. According to pgLang co-founder Dave Free, the team studied every previous Super Bowl Halftime Show, drawing inspiration from iconic performances by Beyoncé, Prince, and Michael Jackson.
“We wanted this performance to have a cinematic and theatrical element to it,” Free told The Wall Street Journal. “We can confidently say that there’s no Super Bowl performance that’s quite like this one.”
Beyond the music, the show was designed to celebrate Black America, with Free emphasizing the importance of controlling the narrative:
“The feel of it is Black America. What does Black America look like, and how to control that narrative of what it means to be Black in America versus what the world’s perspective of that is.”
Star-Studded Cameos & A Controversial Setlist
The performance featured surprise appearances from SZA, Mustard, Samuel L. Jackson, and Serena Williams, further elevating the spectacle. But what truly made headlines was Kendrick’s setlist—which leaned heavily into his feud with Drake.
Rather than playing his biggest radio hits, Lamar chose to perform tracks from his latest album GNX, many of which contain direct shots at his longtime rival.
At one point, Kendrick even took a moment to taunt Drake, exchanging words with his backup dancers:
“I want to perform their favorite song… but you know they love to sue,” referencing Drake’s ongoing defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over the viral diss track Not Like Us.
During his performance of the song, Kendrick notably self-censored the line calling Drake a “certified pedophile”, but his smirk to the camera suggested that the message was still loud and clear.
JAY-Z’s Influence & The Road to the Super Bowl
Dave Free also revealed that the opportunity for Kendrick to headline the Super Bowl came from none other than JAY-Z, who has been overseeing the halftime show’s production since 2020.
While some questioned whether Kendrick would be chosen so soon after his 2022 appearance during Dr. Dre’s legendary halftime set, Free said it was a natural progression:
“It felt like the right time for us.”
A Historic Moment in Hip-Hop
Kendrick Lamar’s record-breaking Super Bowl Halftime Show cements his place in music history—not just as an elite rapper but as a cultural icon capable of captivating global audiences.
With his performance making headlines for both its artistic brilliance and its bold jabs at Drake, one thing is certain: Kendrick Lamar is playing the game on his own terms—and winning.
