Year in Review 2025: Kendrick Lamar Broke Billboard & TV Ratings Records Thanks to the Most-Watched Super Bowl Show in History

For reasons good, bad, ugly, and everything in between, 2025 was one for the books!

As the year draws to a close, That Grape Juice is reflecting on the occasions that rocked – and to some degree – maybe even reshaped the Urban and Pop cultural landscape as we know it.

Next up, we’ll look back at how Kendrick Lamar broke Billboard and TV ratings records thanks to his historic Super Bowl Show.

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Kendrick Lamar didn’t just perform at the 2025 Super Bowl; he added to what was already a historic run of wins in February.

Fresh off a GRAMMY sweep for his album ‘GNX,’ Lamar took over the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans the next week with an action-packed set with back-to-back hits.

The Super Bowl effect was immediate.

Beyond becoming the most-watched halftime show in history, streams and sales for ‘GNX’ surged following the performance and led Lamar to secure yet another No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with its SZA-assisted single ‘Luther’.

International dates for the duo’s ‘ Grand National Tour’ sold out almost instantly, prompting additional shows as global demand reached an all-time high.

That’s not all.

The Rap icon also secured multiple Emmy nods for his Super Bowl performance, directed by Tony Russell, ultimately making history after taking home the Outstanding Music Direction honor.

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[photo source: Getty Images]