Super Bowl 2025: Who was the first celebrity to perform in the halftime show?

The Super Bowl halftime show has come to be one of the most eagerly awaited music extravaganzas globally. At Super Bowl 2025, the Grammy-winning rap artist, Kendrick Lamar, took the spotlight, accompanied by the R&B starlet, SZA. As everyone held their breath for their show-stopping performance, it was a perfect moment to reflect on where this grand custom began.

The very first celebrity performances during the Super Bowl halftime show were by Marguerite Piazza, along with Doc Severinsen, Al Hirt, and Lionel Hampton. They, along with the Southern University Marching Band, brought their talents to the stage in 1970. This marked a change from the marching bands that had been the staple of the halftime entertainment.

Since that moment, the halftime show transformed into a stage for the most renowned entertainers to shine, so here's a rundown of its history.

---

Super Bowl halftime shows started with simple marching bands and now feature global icons

In the early days, halftime shows mostly had college marching bands like Grambling State and the University of Arizona. They were a part of football culture, just a quick music break. But things changed after the Super Bowl of 1970 when celebrities joined in as the main act.

Over the years, these shows grew in size and became more like concerts. The 1993 Super Bowl with Michael Jackson was a moment that made it clear: halftime was now a musical event you couldn't miss. By the time we got to the early 2000s, superstars like Christina Aguilera, U2, Beyoncé, Aerosmith, NSYNC, Janet Jackson, and Prince turned it into something people talked about almost as much as the game itself. They had stages, dances, and even surprise guests.

More recently, the NFL started working with Roc Nation to bring all sorts of performers to the halftime stage. Take the 2022 show, for instance. It had Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar, and everyone hailed it as one of the best halftime performances ever. Now, Kendrick Lamar has made his way back to the Super Bowl, but this time as the main act. He's carrying on the tradition of hip-hop being the king of the halftime show.

---

Kendrick Lamar and SZA performed at the Super Bowl 2025 halftime show

For Super Bowl LIX, Kendrick Lamar made history as the headliner, with SZA joining him as a special guest. This was Lamar's second time at the halftime show, following his performance as part of the 2022 lineup. Known for his way with words and the way he lights up the stage, everyone was looking forward to a performance that would showcase his success at the Grammys.

SZA being part of the show brought an extra buzz. The two of them had worked together on some big hits, like All the Stars from the Black Panther soundtrack, which had even been nominated for an Oscar. The chemistry they had when they performed together was something special, and their fans were talking about what they might do on stage. They have put out recent albums, GNX and Lana.

But there was one song that had everyone guessing: Not Like Us. This was the one that got everyone's attention in 2024 because of the things Lamar said about Drake. Some wondered if the legal issues that came up after the song was released would stop him from singing it. The actual list of songs they were going to perform was a secret, so everyone was waiting to see if Not Like Us would make it onto the setlist. Well, it did!

With production spearheaded by Roc Nation and Jesse Collins, the 2025 halftime show was a truly memorable event. In an inclusive move, there was also an American Sign Language (ASL) performance by Matt Maxey, which means that everyone watching, regardless of their hearing abilities, was engaged.

---

Super Bowl LIX happened on a Sunday, the 9th of February, 2025.

The event was held at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The match began at 6:30 in the evening, Eastern Time. For those who like to watch their games on TV, Fox was the channel to tune into. And if you prefer to catch the action on a streaming service, Fubo has you covered.