For happening the third straight 12 months, nation music continues to be probably the most common and dominant genres in all of common music, rivaling and surpassing hip-hop’s decade-plus earlier dominance. But on the largest levels when America comes collectively to have fun unifying cultural moments, nation music continues to be locked out.
Kendrick Lamar was the halftime performer for Tremendous Bowl LIX in New Orleans on Sunday (2-10)—a hip-hop artist in an extended string of them ever since Jay-Z’s Roc Nation partnered with the NFL to provide the halftime present in 2019. It shouldn’t shock anybody that it’s been one hip-hop efficiency after one other ever since. And hey, beforehand, hip-hop had been deemed to scorching for primetime, and had been locked out of Tremendous Bowl alternatives itself.
However how lengthy has it been since nation music was featured in the course of the the Tremendous Bowl halftime? It’s now formally been 31 years. You must go all the best way again to 1994 when Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, and The Judds performed the Tremendous Bowl halftime to seek out the final and actually solely time nation music was featured in the course of the Tremendous Bowl halftime. There hasn’t even been a rustic artist featured as a visitor in over 20 years. Shania Twain appeared briefly with No Doubt in 2003.
Although a rustic critic is completely unqualified to commentate on the standard of Kendrick Lamar’s efficiency, what might be quantifiably decided is that finally, it was a (largely) lip-synced presentation punctuated by choreographic dancing, identical to just about each single different common music efficiency from the pop and hip-hop realm. There have been no stay musicians on a stage. Visitor performer SZA didn’t even appear to try to behave like she was really singing. And the way might you with all of the exact gesticulations which are required for such a efficiency?
As hip-hop pundits and political activists harp concerning the iconography and Easter eggs employed by Kendrick Lamar and what all of them imply, the vast majority of America stared at their televisions screens and couldn’t inform what the hell was happening, although there was lots of motion, which apparently is an important factor.
Even to a pre-recorded observe, the lyrics had been incoherent, and any messages veiled or overt had been largely misplaced, which frankly, is a disgrace when contemplating Kendrick’s extra considerate, socially acutely aware, and intelligent lyricism. And that basically is the kick within the pants. Kendrick Lamar is without doubt one of the most critically-acclaimed hip-hop artists of all time. And there he was, doing a tune and dance routine to a pre-recorded observe versus being stay and in-the-moment.
The week earlier, Kendrick Lamar had earned 5 Grammy Awards, main the sector, together with his Drake diss observe “Not Like Us” successful File of the Yr and Music of the Yr—the identical tune that capped off his Tremendous Bowl efficiency. Early February is now arguably the epicenter for culturally unifying moments in media and music, with the Tremendous Bowl being very a lot a musical occasion together with a sports activities one.
Much like many latest Tremendous Bowl halftime performances, the Grammy Awards had been primarily dominated by lip-synced performances and choreographic dancing with no stay instrument to be seen on stage.
Billboard remarked “Rock Is the Second-Largest Style within the U.S. Why Was It Lacking From the Grammys?” That’s an excellent query. A fair higher query is why nation can declare the identical factor? Other than Brad Paisley showing in a multi-genre opening phase with Dawes centered across the L.A. fires, and an look by Shaboozey, nation music was nowhere to be seen.
Precise music retains going lacking from musical performances in lieu of pre-recorded backing tracks and and what boils down to bounce routines. Sierra Ferrell was the 2nd-highest Grammy winner in 2025 with 4 trophies, sweeping all of her nominations just like Kendrick Lamar. She would have shocked the world with a Grammy efficiency. However none was bestowed, and all of her wins had been relegated to the pre-telecast.
Why are rock and nation surging in curiosity? And why is extra earthy, twangy, songwriter-based nation shading out hip-hop and drum-machine variations of business nation? It’s as a result of in a more and more advanced, digitized, AI-driven, chilly and indifferent world, nation and roots music feels actual.
Even when younger audiences are interfacing with this music by means of their telephones and different know-how, there’s something about flesh and blood, wooden and wire, the attractive imperfections of a very stay efficiency that makes folks really feel linked in an more and more disconnected world. It’s natural. It breathes, feels, cries, and bleeds.
However the establishments tasked with representing music followers are more and more shirking the alternatives to function precise music. This is without doubt one of the causes there was such a backlash to Beyoncé’s Greatest Nation Album win for Cowboy Carter. It’s not that if you choose out sure songs, they don’t sound just like what you may hear on nation radio. It’s that finally Cowboy Carter was music that also leaned on digital instrumentation, drum loops, samples, and different inorganic matter. That’s the reason nation radio is more and more dropping relevance, together with the Grammy Awards.
Nation followers and pundits have been complaining concerning the lack of illustration on the Tremendous Bowl for years now. At the very least at previous Tremendous Bowls, nation artists had been chosen for Nationwide Anthem performances (this 12 months it was Jon Batiste). However now others are starting to take observe. Imagine it or not, The New York Occasions not too long ago requested the query, “The Tremendous Bowl Lastly Embraced Rap. Is There Additionally Room for Nation?”
The article quotes the chief government of Roc Nation, Desiree Perez, who says she “can’t wait till we get some nation music” and follows up, “That’s positively one thing we’re engaged on — to be sure that we’re protecting every kind of music.”
It will likely be fascinating to see how lengthy the partnership between the NFL and Roc Nation continues itself. However it might be much more fascinating to see a rustic artist get a possibility on the 50 yard line. And never simply because it might lastly imply nation music received its alternative. It’s going to additionally probably imply precise instrumentation, and stay vocals. Or no less than, it ought to.
Certain, with such a large, mainstream viewers tuning into the Tremendous Bowl, you need to current one thing that’s smart. However don’t low cost the sensibilities of the American music client in 2025. It’s the identical inhabitants that has turned Zach Bryan and Noah Kahan into area and stadium performers, and seen uncharacteristic superstars like Luke Combs do the identical. In any case, it’s not like Kendrick Lamar was secure for primetime. However that was type of the purpose.
Identical to soccer that’s performed between the numbers by residing and respiration people the place all digital enhancements and trickery are relegated to the sidelines, nation music is that one final contact of the true world. All of the extra cause to lastly showcase it on America’s greatest stage.
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