Serena Williams 'Died a Little' During Her Surprise Cameo in Kendrick Lamar's 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Performance

Serena Williams made a surprise appearance on stage at the Super Bowl 2025 halftime show — and seems beyond thrilled by the experience.

In a video shared to her Instagram shortly after the performance on Sunday, Feb. 9, Williams, 43, was seen practicing her moves backstage while a hair and makeup team worked their magic in the moments before she went out on the field at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

“Let’s go Super Bowl halftime??! I died a little! 💃🏿,” she captioned the post.

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Fans were both shocked and delighted by the surprise appearance. “Girl you killed it!! 🙌🏾,” wrote one Instagram user, while another fan added, “You ate that!!!!! Wimbledon memories!!! 🔥 😍.”

During Sunday's championship game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs, tennis champion appeared on stage during Kendrick Lamar's performance of "Not Like Us," a diss track aimed at "Hotline Bling" rapper Drake. 

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“I want to play their favorite song, but you know they love to sue," Lamar, 37, said before diving into the hit single — the “they” seemingly in reference to Drake, who filed a defamation suit involving Lamar in January.

Lamar’s decision to include Williams, a fellow Compton native, in his halftime performance holds extra significance given that she and Drake, 38, dated around 2011. And the meaning was not lost on fans. 

“Ok I lied SERENA WILLIAMS doing a CRIP WALK on Drake's tomb (this performance) was THE BEST thing I've ever seen,” one X user posted.

“Serena Williams, Drake’s ex girlfriend, crip walking to #TheyNotLikeUs is diabolical,” wrote another fan.

In the comments on her Instagram post, another person added, "Way to get yo lick back!!"

Samuel L. Jackson also made a cameo during the halftime show, showing up to introduce the Grammy winner while dressed as Uncle Sam.  

In addition to "Not Like Us," Lamar performed several of his biggest hits, including "HUMBLE." and "Squabble Up.” SZA, who was previously announced as a special guest, also appeared to sing two songs with the rapper, including "All the Stars." 

The Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles faced off in the 2025 Super Bowl, which aired on Fox on Sunday, Feb. 9.