Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show Breaks Records, Makes History

Kendrick Lamar’s electrifying Super Bowl LIX halftime show has taken over social media, with clips of his performance—especially the viral “Say, Drake” moment from Not Like Us—dominating timelines. Fans also can’t stop talking about the star-studded guest appearances from Samuel L. Jackson, SZA, and Serena Williams, which added even more excitement to the spectacle.

Lamar didn’t just put on a show—he made history. Roc Nation confirmed that his halftime performance is now the most-watched Super Bowl show of all time, drawing a staggering 133.5 million viewers. This officially surpasses Michael Jackson’s legendary 1993 performance, which held the record with 133.4 million viewers.

We’ve broken the record again! The most watched Apple Music Halftime show EVER, with 133.5 Million viewers. pic.twitter.com/CfRQGUuG31

— Roc Nation (@RocNation) February 11, 2025

This milestone is particularly significant, as Lamar became the first solo rapper to headline a Super Bowl halftime show. The 2018 Pulitzer Prize winner delivered a performance that many are already calling one of the greatest halftime shows ever. His five-time Grammy-winning track Not Like Us, widely known as a diss track aimed at Drake, became the standout moment of the night. Lamar performed a total of 12 songs, blending his biggest hits into a powerful medley.

A Show Packed with Symbolism and Iconic Moments

Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl performance currently has the same amount of views it took usher 11 months to reach. IN ONE DAY 🤯 pic.twitter.com/5EojHFIeIT

— pglang 🏁 (@gudkiddmaadcity) February 11, 2025

Lamar commanded the stage at Allegiant Stadium with high-energy performances of HUMBLE., DNA., peekaboo, and Not Like Us, mixing stunning visuals with deeper social themes.

The show opened with Samuel L. Jackson, dressed in red, white, and blue as Uncle Sam, setting the tone with a dramatic introduction before making a second appearance later in the performance.

Another unforgettable moment came when Serena Williams took the stage, surprising fans by breaking into a Crip Walk, adding to the show’s cultural significance.

Beyond the spectacle, Lamar’s performance carried a strong message, weaving social commentary into the high-energy production. But there’s no doubt that the underlying tension with Drake fueled even more interest, as millions tuned in just to see if Lamar would perform Not Like Us—a track that has become one of the defining moments of their ongoing feud.

With record-breaking numbers and a show-stopping performance, Kendrick Lamar has once again cemented his legacy in music history.

 

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i do find it curious how MJs superbowl performance viewership was nowhere to be found in a lot of official top 10 lists but the moment someone finally surpasses it, his name is immediately brought up lol https://t.co/BosdQb8Zjt

— BEMBÉ (@isitscarybaby) February 11, 2025

In 1993 2.39% of the global population watched Mochael Jackson.

In 2025 1.907% of the global population watched Kendrick Lamar.

— Tanc Games (@tancgames) February 12, 2025

it’s not just the population apparently Nielsen changed their methodology compared to previous years this time they counted the entire US instead of just the top 50 market. Safe to say that MJ had more than 133.4 viewers if that was just from the top 50 market pic.twitter.com/v9LSxKOKQ8

— MJ the Musical (@dontstopMJ) February 12, 2025

They are technically correct, it did have 133.5M but it’s including all of the streaming viewers who opted not to watch it out of their home on their phone or on other digital platforms. Traditional TV viewership would have been around 120 million, which means MJ still has the…

— Quote (@Quote31490249) February 11, 2025

Exactly. Nielsen expanded measurement to 100% of U.S. households this year, adding OOH, streaming, and digital viewers. Yet even with all those advantages, Kendrick’s total was only 100K higher?

Michael’s 133.4M came from U.S. TV ratings alone—no OOH, no streaming, no digital.…

— Kids in America (@_kidsinamerica) February 11, 2025

Bare in mind. The game had an average of 126 million. Kendrick brought over about 7.5 million viewers. Which is nothing to disregard. On the flipside, MJ brought over 43.3 million viewers domestically. Lastly, the previous halftime show before MJ. '
'92 had 20 million viewers.

— 3rd Runner Up! (@CodenameItalian) February 12, 2025