"Lil Wayne was right there": NFL fans react to Kendrick Lamar's headline Super Bowl LIX halftime show announcement

Although Week 1 is about to kick off, all eyes are already on Super Bowl LIX which will take place on February 9, 2025. NFL fans now know who the halftime performer will be, it's rapper Kendrick Lamar.

Apple Music and Roc Nation, who coordinate the annual halftime performance announced the news just hours before kickoff. This will be the second time that Kendrick Lamar will make an appearance during the big game's halftime show. He was also a special guest in 2022 at SoFi Stadium alongside Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg.

The news brought mixed responses from NFL and music fans on X on Sunday morning. There were some who questioned the reasoning behind choosing Lamar as they had hoped Lil' Wayne would be chosen.

Others quickly noted that fellow rapper Drake would likely be upset by this news. Drake and Kendrick Lamar have been in heated disagreements for months which has included both rappers writing songs about the other.

Fans of Kendrick Lamar were so excited by the news that they took the opportunity to throw shade at Drake for not getting the opportunity. Others were excited to see him perform his new song, "Not Like Us", which is directed at Drake, in front of millions of viewers worldwide.

"Drake keeps taking L's," stated one user on X.

"Performing not like us in front of all of America is nasty work," one fan said in reference of the rapper's latest song.

"Lil Wayne wasn’t available?," questioned another fan.

It's unknown at this time if Kendrick Lamar will have any special guests along with him on stage. One thing is for sure, the Super Bowl halftime show is the biggest stage for artists to showcase their talents.

"Generational hater going to be able to do it in the biggest show in the country. Drake gonna have so many IG stories," said one user on X.

"Hating and lying on Drake gives this man his best musicial year in a long time," another fan said.

"This could be an all-time classic," speculated one person.

How much do performers make to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show?

Being selected to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show is one of the biggest gigs an artist can get. Having the opportunity to perform not only in front of a sold-out crowd at the stadium but, also performing in front of hundreds of millions of viewers who are watching at home.

While it's one of the biggest opportunities one can get, it doesn't come with a big paycheck. In fact, halftime performers don't get paid at all. Kendrick Lamar won't receive a penny to perform at Super Bowl LIX instead, the entire performance, including props, backup dancers, etc., are all paid for by Apple Music who sponsors the halftime show.

The benefits of getting such a big audience typically pay for themselves and the artist sees an increase in streams and other opportunities.