When Kendrick Lamar takes the Super Bowl stage in 2025, it will be his first time headlining the halftime show solo, but it won’t be his first appearance at the show.
In 2022, Lamar joined his mentor Dr. Dre (along with Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Mary J. Blige) at the then-new SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, for the first all-hip-hop halftime show. He performed two solo songs — “mAAd city” from his sophomore album, good kid, mAAd city from 2012, and “Alright” from To Pimp a Butterfly 2015 — and also joined the group for “Forgot About Dre” and “Still DRE.” His performance at the upcoming Super Bowl LIX will mark the second time the show has been entirely dedicated to hip-hop.
The most recent Super Bowl halftime show also featured a returning artist for a second time: Usher, who headlined the Super Bowl LVIII halftime show in February at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, was joined by special guests Alicia Keys, Ludacris, Jermaine Dupri, Lil Jon, and will.i.am, and took the stage alongside will and a different crew in 2011. Fourteen years earlier, Usher appeared at the Black Eyed Peas’ halftime show to perform their No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 song, “OMG,” alongside will.i.am, who produced the 2010 hit. In his 2011 appearance, the R&B star descended from the heights of Cowboys Stadium in an all-white outfit and sunglasses to put on a master class in robotic choreography, even ending the song by jumping over will.i.am, climbing down a ladder, and landing in a split.
But Lamar and Usher aren’t the first artists to return to the halftime stage. In fact, two stars have even performed three times at the big NFL game.
Below, all the artists who have performed at the Super Bowl halftime show more than once. (Note: We consider halftime shows in the modern era, since New Kids on the Block took the show in a pop direction in 1991)
Gloria Estefan: 1992, 1995 and 1999
The Latin music superstar holds the distinction of being the first artist to take the Super Bowl stage three times (one more artist has since joined the club). In 1992, she performed at a Winter Olympics salute with figure skaters Dorothy Hamill and Brian Boitano; in 1995, she took the stage with the Miami Sound Machine as part of Disney’s Indiana Jones-themed halftime show; and in 1999, she represented “salsa” at a “Celebration of Soul, Salsa & Swing” alongside Stevie Wonder, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Savion Glover.
Stevie Wonder: 1994 and 1999
Before taking the stage with Estefan, Wonder joined Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt and Wynonna Judd onstage for the finale of the 1994 halftime show. Ashley Judd, Lisa Hartman Black, The Georgia Satellites, Joe Namath, Elijah Wood and Charlie Daniels also took the stage for a group rendition of The Judds’ “Love Can Build a Bridge.”
Justin Timberlake: 2001, 2004 and 2018
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/GI
Timberlake has an infamous history with the Super Bowl, ever since he took the lyrics of his “Rock Your Body” song “I bet I’ll have you naked by the end of this song” a little too literally during Janet Jackson’s halftime show in 2004. But that wasn’t his only visit to the Big Game. He’s taken the stage three times so far, as has Estefan: when his *NSYNC bandmates headlined the show alongside Aerosmith in 2001, at Janet’s famous show, and when he played his own headlining set in 2018.
Nelly: 2001 and 2004
Except for his one solo performance on “Hot in Herre” in 2004, Nelly served primarily as part of the ensemble in these two star-studded years. In addition to Janet and Justin, P. Diddy and Kid Rock also took the stage in 2004.
Bruno Mars: 2014 and 2016
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
After Mars headlined the Super Bowl XLVIII halftime show, he joined Coldplay on their set two years later, performing their energetic megahit “Uptown Funk” before Beyoncé and Chris Martin joined him to finish the performance together.
Beyonce: 2013 and 2016
Like Mars, Beyoncé appeared during Coldplay’s 2016 show to perform their newly released anthem “Formation.” In 2013, she performed her hits and reunited Destiny’s Child for their own Super Bowl XLVII halftime show.
Mary J. Blige: 2001 and 2022
Image Credit: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via GI
Mary J. Blige’s 2022 Super Bowl halftime show with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar was her second stint on the big stage. Blige was also part of the aforementioned Aerosmith and *NSYNC team-up, and she performed at the 2001 grand finale to deliver some of the high notes from “Walk This Way.”
Usher: 2011 and 2024
Before headlining his own set in 2024 — alongside Alicia Keys, Ludacris, Lil Jon, Jermaine Dupri, H.E.R. and will.i.am — Usher appeared on the Black Eyed Peas’ show in 2011 to perform their No. 1 Hot 100 hit, “OMG,” produced by Will.
will.i.am: 2011 and 2024
Usher and will.i.am performed at the same two Super Bowl halftime shows, as Will’s Black Eyed Peas welcomed Usher onstage in 2011 for their performance and the R&B superstar returned the favor in 2024, inviting the BEP frontman to his own show.
Kendrick Lamar: 2022 and 2025
Kendrick Lamar was part of an all-star ensemble of hip-hop stars that headlined the Super Bowl halftime show in 2022, led by his mentor Dr. Dre and also including Snoop Dogg, Eminem and Mary J. Blige. He will now take the reins on his own on February 9, 2025.
