Kendrick Lamar’s electrifying 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show may have already shattered viewership records, but it’s now poised to make Emmy history.
The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences unveiled the full list of 2025 Primetime Emmy nominations, and the HUMBLE hitmaker leads the pack with an impressive four nominations for his Roc Nation-produced Apple Music Halftime performance at Super Bowl LIX.
The Nominations at a Glance:
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Outstanding Variety Special (Live)
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Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special
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Outstanding Music Direction
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Outstanding Choreography (Variety/Reality)
These nominations make Kendrick Lamar the first solo rapper in history to earn Emmy recognition for a Super Bowl performance — a major milestone for both hip-hop and televised entertainment.
A Record-Breaking Run
Kendrick’s 2025 halftime appearance marked his first solo Super Bowl headlining set and follows his previous appearance in 2022 alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, 50 Cent, and Mary J. Blige — a performance that also won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special (Live), becoming the first Super Bowl show to do so.
In 2023, Rihanna earned the same Emmy for her own headline show.
If Kendrick takes home a trophy this year, he’ll become the first solo male performer to win an Emmy for a Super Bowl halftime gig.
What’s Next?
Winners will be revealed during the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, airing September 14 on CBS. The ceremony will also be available for streaming on Paramount+.
Fans and critics alike are eagerly awaiting the results, as Lamar continues to break boundaries in music, culture, and now television.
