Kendrick Lamar was announced as the headliner for the 2025 Super Bowl, signifying yet another year in which Roc Nation, Apple Music and the NFL have missed the mark in deciding who deserves the spotlight at one of the biggest televised events of the year.
Granted, Lamar is coming off one of his most successful and discussed years in the last decade — primarily due to his overly public ongoing feud with fellow rapper Drake. But, despite Lamar’s recent accolades, believing he’s the best person to entertain millions of viewers for 13 minutes is wishful thinking at best.
While Lamar likely has an army of fans ready to scream “Not Like Us” loud enough for Drake to hear all the way in Canada, there are more deserving artists who have more hits, talent, fans and commercial success, and better stage presences than the Compton rapper.
One such artist is rapper and founder of Young Money Entertainment Lil Wayne. Wayne being overlooked for the halftime show is surprising given his personal ties to this year’s Super Bowl — the event is being held in the artist’s hometown of New Orleans. The next two Super Bowls are slated to take place in California where Lamar is from — why not wait and let him perform next year?
Many fans and rappers feel this is a calculated and vindictive shot by Roc Nation founder Jay-Z to Wayne and his artists. Jay-Z was named co-producer for the halftime show in 2019, and has had a say in who gets to perform since. With Jay-Z running Roc Nation — a competitor of Wayne’s label — many feel Jay-Z personally snubbed Wayne in an effort to assert his dominance over competing rappers and labels.
Another artist who is more appropriate for the Super Bowl is Miley Cyrus. Cyrus is one of the most hoped-for and desired headliners for the halftime show, as reports come out every year which suggest the NFL wants to have the “Flowers” singer perform.
So why not this year? Cyrus has had a successful year in her own right, after winning Record of The Year at the Grammys and becoming the youngest star to receive the Disney Legend status. As a headliner, Cyrus would bring more vocally and performance-wise than Lamar — she could swing down a wrecking ball, rock out with Joan Jett or Stevie Nicks, or put on a blonde wig and channel her alter-ego, delivering a powerful rendition of “The Climb” to millions.
Just as Hannah Montana still can sway the hearts of millions, Bieber Fever is still a serious epidemic people all over the globe suffer from. Despite the first diagnosis being reported in February 2010, when the “Baby” music video dropped, no cure has been found. Being in the industry as long as he has, it’s impressive Bieber continues to remain relevant in the music scene. His latest album received eight Grammy nominations — the most he’s received in a single year.
A halftime performance from Bieber could potentially bring in a high female viewership, which the NFL has been trying to attract, as its decision to show Taylor Swift during games has contributed to large viewership spikes in the female demographic.
While a Kendrick Lamar halftime show is what viewers are in for this February, it’ll be hard to watch without wondering what we could’ve had instead.
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