Kendrick Lamar makes history with Super Bowl LIX performance and now faces Beyonce at Emmys

An exciting thing from Hollywood just landed. Kendrick Lamar, a famous rapper, has been nominated for an Emmy for his Super Bowl LIX Mn halftime show, which aired on February 9, 2025, in New Orleans at the Caesars Superdome.

Over 133 million people watched his performance. Now, he is in the running for two important Emmy awards: Outstanding Music Direction and Outstanding Variety Special (Live). But that’s not all, his show earned a total of four nominations. What made this moment special, and how did he beat other live events? Keep reading to find out more.

What Kendrick Lamar did at the Super Bowl LIX halftime show to earn Emmy nods

On July 15, 2025, Kendrick Lamar was nominated for two Emmy Awards for his Super Bowl LIX halftime performance in New Orleans.

He’s up for Outstanding Music Direction and Outstanding Variety Special (Live), the second shared with Jay-Z and Dave Free. This is Kendrick’s second Emmy nod for a Super Bowl show, he won in 2022 for the Super Bowl LVI halftime with Dr. Dre, Eminem, and Snoop Dogg.

His 2025 solo show broke records, reaching 133.5 million viewers, the most in Super Bowl halftime history. With live music, dance, and powerful themes, fans and critics praised the performance for its message and style.

Clips went viral on social media, and many called it the best halftime show ever. Now, Kendrick Lamar is seen not only as a top rapper but also as a creative leader in live entertainment.

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Kendrick’s show earned four Emmy nods: Music Direction, Live Variety Special, Directing For a Variety Special, and Choreography. Interestingly, Beyonce also received a nomination in the Outstanding Variety Special (Live) category for her “Beyoncé Bowl” halftime in Baltimore. Jay‑Z is nominated again as an executive producer for Kendrick Lamar’s show. This sets up a friendly awards-era showdown between Kendrick Lamar, Beyonce, and Jay-Z in nearly the same categories. Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez praised the achievement, saying the nominations show the show’s impact and cultural importance.Kendrick Kamar is now among music giants aiming for Emmy gold in September’s ceremony. His nominations prove that halftime shows can shine as major creative achievements, this time spotlighted by top TV and music awards.