*It hasn’t even been a week since Kendrick Lamar’s epic Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show and folks are fast forwarding to 2026, with thoughts on who could possibly follow the Compton rhyme animal.
While many names would float in the air, Billboard brought few contenders worthy of such a task. Breaking it down by genres, the music outlet kick off their possibilities list in R&B / hip-hop with Lil Wayne, the rapper many felt should’ve headlined the 2025 halftime show.
Considering New Orleans being the location for the big game, it would’ve been fitting to have the “A Milli” entertainer making his home state proud amid all the other homegrown talent already making Louisiana proud on one of the most viewed stages of the year. Realistically speaking, the 2026 halftime show would be a consolation prize for Weezy, a weak effort to make amends after the moment came and went.
With that in mind, wouldn’t it be interesting to have Drake play the 2026 halftime show after a 2024 of reminders that his archrival won the battle and the war with the Super Bowl, top of the Billboard 100 and the Super Bowl among his war trophies.
Which brings us to SZA. The “Kill Bill” singer would be a logical extension from this year, after riding shotgun with Lamar, whom she will reunite with for their upcoming joint tour. The momentum from 2025 would easily carry over, with SZA pulling hits from her catalog to entertain the crowd.
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“After SZA’s ethereal appearance during Lamar’s set, it could make sense for K. Dot to pass the baton to his upcoming tour mate and frequent collaborator,” Billboard noted.
She’d have plenty of songs to choose from, as her 2017 album Ctrl peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and spawned standout tracks like “Love Galore,” “The Weeknd,” and “Broken Clocks,” while her Billboard 200 chart-topper SOS featured hits like “Kill Bill,” “Snooze,” “Good Days,” “I Hate U” and more.”
On a pop scale, Taylor Swift would be a no-brainer as she would certainly build on Lamar’s buzz with her own meme worthy moments while treating the Swifties and sports fans to a certified human highlight with hit after hit. If Swift isn’t on the NFL’s radar, then Justin Bieber could be the go-to or even BTS, wo also could plot its musical return in a big way with “a major Halftime Show takeover”
Taking country music’s impact Post Malone was brought into the discussion as “a fun headliner following the release of his country-tinged F-1 Trillion project. Morgan Wallen aside as another country choice, Billboard even went throwback, shining a light on rock acts, like Metallica and Linkin Park to prove they still got it and nothing’s changed.
So what say you? After Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show performance, who do you think should the site’s invite and run with it? Scroll below with your suggestions:
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