Barbadian singer and businesswoman Rihanna is backing Kendrick Lamar up as critics question whether he is the right artiste to perform at the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime show.
The singer aired her thoughts in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, where she praised Kendrick’s artistry, saying that he is the best person for the performance at the moment.
“It’s a diamond on a ring finger, honey. It’s meant to be!” she said.
“It’s Kendrick Lamar! Kendrick Lamar is the one that’s supposed to do it right now. He’s gonna crush it. We should never doubt him. He’s an amazing artist, top-tier. He had an incredible year. He actually brought so many people together. It’s to be celebrated. That’s what culture is. He deserves it. I cannot wait to see it. Kendrick, thank you.”
Time Magazine noted the controversy that surrounded Kendrick’s selection by the National Football League (NFL) for the performance in September.
“Some people questioned Lamar as the choice for the Super Bowl, saying that New Orleans native rapper Lil Wayne should have been selected to headline the show instead, since February’s big game is being held in his hometown. Lamar is from Compton, Calif.”
The outlet further reported that rapper Lil Wayne was trending on X on Monday September 9 following the announcement by Lamar and the NFL.
“Debates sparked online about whether the 41-year-old Grammy winner should have been chosen for the big game. Lil Wayne has released multiple number one albums, including The Carter II, The Carter III, The Carter IV, and in 2023, he was inducted into Billboard’s Hip-Hop Hall of Fame.”
Rihanna performed during the 2023 Super Bowl, and at the time, that became the most watched halftime show of all time, with 121 million viewers.
Billboard notes that Usher’s performance which followed early this year surpassed that impressive mark, attracting 123 million viewers.
The highly anticipated show will take place at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on February 9.
