Kendrick Lamar Makes History with Four EMMY Nominations for His 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show

Kendrick Lamar‘s epic 2025 Super Bowl performance may already sit in record books as the most-watched Halftime Show ever, but – thanks to a handful of EMMY nominations (announced July 15) – the showing could soon be etched in history logs for a new set of reasons.

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On Tuesday (July 15), the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS) unveiled the full list of 2025 Primetime EMMY nominations.

Lamar was among the leaders, collecting a whopping four nods for the Roc Nation-produced Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show in the categories of Outstanding Variety Special (Live), Outstanding Directing For a Variety Special, Outstanding Music Direction, and Outstanding Choreography (Variety/Reality).

Listing in the categories make him the first solo rapper in history to garner EMMY nominations for a Super Bowl performance.

Uniquely, Kendrick’s inaugural Halftime Show appearance (as part of the 2022 Hip-Hop ensemble led by Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, and Eminem) was the first musical showing at the big game to secure an EMMY win when it collected the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) trophy.

Later, Rihanna‘s epic 2023 headlining gig captured the same trophy. Should K.Dot win this year, however, he will be the first solo male performer to take home the honor.

Fans will find out when the 77th annual Primetime EMMY Awards air on CBS on September 14.

[photo sources: Getty / AP]