NEW ORLEANS (NEXSTAR) — It wouldn’t be a Super Bowl halftime show without surprise guests, right?
We knew rapper Kendrick Lamar would headline the show, and that fellow musical artist SZA would join him. What we likely didn’t expect were a renowned actor, a tennis star, and a music producer – but that’s what viewers saw on Sunday.
Lamar’s show started not with him, but with the appearance of actor Samuel L. Jackson, dressed in an apparent nod to “Uncle Sam.”
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – FEBRUARY 09: Serena Williams performs onstage during Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – FEBRUARY 09: Serena Williams performs onstage during Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
During the show, Lamar had dozens of background dancers, but one stuck out: Serena Williams. The retired tennis star — who grew up in Compton, like Lamar — briefly appeared during the show.
Joining Lamar for his hit song “tv off” was the producer and Mustard, formerly DJ Mustard, who is behind another Lamar hit, “Not Like Us.”
Another star of the halftime show? Lamar’s letterman-style jacket. Featuring multiple patches, the eye-catching jacket largely paid tribute to Lamar’s latest album, his upcoming tour with SZA, the entertainment company he co-founded, and his hometown neighborhood of Compton.
