It’s not Beyoncé or Rihanna: This is the most watched Super Bowl Halftime show ever
First introduced in 1967, the Halftime show is now an integral part of the Super Bowl spectacle.
The Kansas City Chiefs face the Philadelphia Eagles tonight in New Orleans as Andy Reid’s team chase a historic and an unprecedented Super Bowl “three-peat” (winning three consecutive titles).
Both these teams met in Arizona in the 2023 Super Bowl with the Eagles looking to avenge that defeat and determined to deny the Chiefs a dynasty-building win.
Super Bowl Eve. #SuperBowlLIX pic.twitter.com/kqHszly0R5
— NFL (@NFL) February 9, 2025
Halftime Show
Kendrick Lamar is set to perform at the Halftime Show and earlier this week as part of the media build-up, he told the press that the audience can expect “storytelling” from his performance. “I’ve always been very open to telling stories through my repertoire and my musical history. And I’ve always been passionate about putting them into any scenario that I’m in, whether it’s my world tour or a performance in front of 500 people in a club (…) I like people to listen, see and reflect,” he said.
While SZA is the only confirmed performer, there are plenty of other artists the rapper has made music with in the past who could also be included for the halftime show. One could be Lil Wayne, who is from New Orleans and with whom he has the song “Mona Lisa.” Future and Metro Boomin, who collaborated with Lamar on “Like That,” are two other potential candidates.
Lamar looking to oust Usher
Last year’s Super Bowl LVII made history with the game drawing the biggest ratings in history. Halftime performer Usher benefitted as his set eclipsed the 121.1 million viewers that Rihanna saw tune in for her 2023 performance in Arizona.
123.4 million tuned in to watch the Texan born perform hits such as ‘Burn’, ‘Caught Up’ and ‘U Got it Bad’.
Prior to Rihanna, Katy Perry held the record for highest viewers with her 2015 show.
The California native saw 121 million tune-in as Lenny Kravitz, Missy Elliot and the Arizona State University Sun Devil Marching Band joined Perry as she performed hits like “Roar,” “California Gurls” and “Firework.”
Super Bowl Halftime performers (1967-2025)
2025: Kendrick Lamar, SZA
2024: Usher, Alicia Keys, Jermaine Dupri, H.E.R., Will.I.Am, Lil Jon, Ludacris.
2023: Rihanna
2022: Eminem, Dr. Dre. Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar and Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent, Anderson .Paak
2021: The Weeknd
2020: Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, J Balvin
2019: Maroon 5, Travis Scott, Big Boi
2018: Justin Timberlake, The Tennessee Kids
2017: Lady Gaga
2016: Coldplay, Beyoncé, Bruno Mars
2015: Katy Perry, Lenny Kravitz and Missy Elliott
2014: Bruno Mars, Red Hot Chili Peppers
2013: Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child
2012: Madonna, CeeLo Green, LMFAO, Nicki Minaj, M.I.A.
2011: The Black Eyed Peas, Usher, Slash
2010: The Who
2009: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
2008: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
2007: Prince and the Florida A&M marching band
2006: The Rolling Stones
2005: Paul McCartney
2004: Janet Jackson, Kid Rock, P. Diddy, Nelly and Justin Timberlake
2003: Shania Twain, No Doubt and Sting
2002: U2
2001: ‘The Kings of Rock and Pop’ with Aerosmith, ‘N’Sync, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige and Nell’
2000: ‘A Tapestry of Nations’ with Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, Toni Braxton
1999: ‘Celebration of Soul, Salsa and Swing’ with Stevie Wonder, Gloria Estefan, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
1998: ‘A Tribute to Motown’s 40th Anniversary’ with Boyz II Men, Smokey Robinson, Queen Latifah, Martha Reeves and The Temptations
1997: ‘Blues Brothers Bash’ with Dan Akroyd, John Goodman, James Belushi, James Brown and ZZ Top)
1996: Diana Ross
1995: ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye’ with Tony Bennett, Patti LaBelle, Arturo Sandoval, the Miami Sound Machine.
1994: ‘Rockin’ Country Sunday’ with Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, Wynonna & Naomi Judd.
1993: ‘Heal the World’ with Michael Jackson.
1992: ‘Winter Magic’ with Gloria Estefan, Brian Boitano and Dorothy Hamill
1991: ‘A Small World Salute to 25 Years of the Super Bowl’ with New Kids on the Block
1990: ‘Salute to New Orleans’ with trumpeter Pete Fountain, Doug Kershaw & Irma Thomas
1989: ‘Be Bop Bamboozled’, 3D effects
1988: ‘Something Grand’ with 88 grand pianos, the Rockettes and Chubby Checker
1987: ‘Salute to Hollywood’s 100th Anniversary’
1986: ‘Beat of the Future’
1985: ‘A World of Children’s Dreams’
1984: ‘Super Bowl XVIII’s Salute to the Superstars of the Silver Screen’
1983: ‘KaleidoSUPERscope’
1982: ‘A Salute to the 60s and Motown’
1981: ‘To Mardi Gras Festival’
1980: ‘A Salute to the Big Band Era’ with Up with People
1979: ‘Super Bowl XIII Carnival’ with Ken Hamilton and various Caribbean bands
1978: ‘From Paris to the Paris of America’ with Tyler Apache Belles, Pete Fountain and Al Hirt
1977: ‘It’s a Small World’
1976: ‘200 Years and Just a Baby,’, tribute to America’s Bicentennial
1975: ‘Tribute to Duke Ellington’ with Mercer Ellington and Grambling State band
1974: ‘A Musical America’ with the University of Texas band
1973: ‘Happiness Is’ with the University of Michigan band and Woody Herman
1972: ‘Salute to Louis Armstrong’ with Ella Fitzgerald, Carol Channing and Al Hirtt
1971: Florida A&M band
1970: Carol Channing
1969: ‘America Thanks’ with the Florida A&M University band
1968: Grambling State Band
1967: University of Arizona and Grambling State Marching Band
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