Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar Battle for Top Honors at 2025 Emmy Awards in Historic Showdown

Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar are set to face off at the 2025 Emmy Awards, with both artists nominated for multiple categories due to their standout performances at major sporting events. Beyoncé’s highly acclaimed Beyoncé Bowl special and Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show have earned competing nods, intensifying the Beyoncé 2025 Emmy Awards competition.

The two iconic performers are both shortlisted for Outstanding Choreography and Outstanding Variety Special (Live), putting their groundbreaking productions in direct contest. Other contenders in these categories include Doechii’s performance at the 2025 Grammy Awards, the Oscars tribute to Quincy Jones, and the SNL50 Anniversary Special, highlighting the competitive field this year.

Major Emmy Categories Featuring Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar

Beyond choreography and live variety special categories, Beyoncé is also in the running for Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special and Outstanding Production Design for a Variety Special. Uniquely, this marks the potential for Beyoncé to secure her first Primetime Emmy in directing, with the Beyoncé Bowl credited to her alongside Alex Rudzinski. Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX show, directed by Hamish Hamilton, competes in these same directing and variety special categories, while Kendrick himself is nominated for Outstanding Music Direction, adding further layers to this intense rivalry.

A shared contributor to both Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar’s nominated performances is choreographer Charm La Donna, whose work earned her dual nominations, a rare recognition of her impact on two leading live specials.

Historic Nominations Highlighting Trailblazers and Firsts

The 2025 Emmy Awards also spotlight historic moments beyond the musical performances. Tramell Tillman is nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role in Apple TV+’s Severance, and a win would make him the first Black actor to claim this category in the Television Academy’s history. Similarly, Ayo Edebiri becomes the first woman ever nominated in a single year for both acting and directing in a comedy series thanks to her work on The Bear.

Top Drama Series Contending for Outstanding Drama at the 2025 Emmys

• Andor (Disney+)
• The Diplomat (Netflix)
• The Last of Us (HBO Max)
• Paradise (Hulu)
• The Pitt (HBO Max)
• Severance (Apple TV+)
• Slow Horses (Apple TV+)
• The White Lotus (HBO Max)

Leading Comedy Series Nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series

• Abbott Elementary (ABC)
• The Bear (FX)
• Hacks (HBO Max)
• Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
• Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
• Shrinking (Apple TV+)
• The Studio (Apple TV+)
• What We Do in the Shadows (FX)

Distinguished Limited and Anthology Series in the Running

• Adolescence (Netflix)
• Black Mirror (Netflix)
• Dying for Sex (FX)
• Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story (Netflix)
• The Penguin (HBO Max)

Outstanding Television Movie Nominees

• Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Peacock)
• The Gorge (Apple TV+)
• Mountainhead (HBO Max)
• Nonnas (Netflix)
• Rebel Ridge (Netflix)

Leading Reality Competition Programs

• The Amazing Race (CBS)
• RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV)
• Survivor (CBS)
• Top Chef (Bravo)
• The Traitors (Peacock)

Talk Series Nominated for Outstanding Talk Series

• The Daily Show (Comedy Central)
• Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)

Outstanding Scripted Variety Series Contenders

• Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO Max)
• Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Key Nominations in Outstanding Variety Special (Live)

• The Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show Starring Kendrick Lamar (Fox)
• Beyoncé Bowl (Netflix)
• The Oscars (ABC)
• SNL50: The Anniversary Special (NBC)
• SNL50: The Homecoming Concert (Peacock)

Notable Nominations for Variety Special (Pre-recorded)

• Adam Sandler: Love You (Netflix)
• Ali Wong: Single Lady (Netflix)
• Bill Burr: Drop Dead Years (Hulu)
• Conan O’Brien: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize For American Humor (Netflix)
• Sarah Silverman: Postmortem (Netflix)
• Your Friend, Nate Bargatze (Netflix)

Leading Game Shows Competing in 2025

• Celebrity Family Feud (ABC)
• Jeopardy (ABC)
• The Price is Right (CBS)
• Wheel of Fortune (ABC)
• Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (ABC)

Outstanding Lead Roles in Drama Series

• Kathy Bates, Matlock
• Sharon Horgan, Bad Sisters
• Britt Lower, Severance
• Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us
• Keri Russell, The Diplomat

Outstanding Lead Male Actors in Drama Series

• Sterling K. Brown, Paradise
• Gary Oldman, Slow Horses
• Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us
• Adam Scott, Severance
• Noah Wyle, The Pitt

Leading Actresses in Comedy Series

• Uzo Aduba, The Residence
• Kristen Bell, Nobody Wants This
• Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
• Ayo Edebiri, The Bear
• Jean Smart, Hacks

Outstanding Male Leads in Comedy Series

• Adam Brody, Nobody Wants This
• Seth Rogen, The Studio
• Jason Segel, Shrinking
• Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building
• Jeremy Allen White, The Bear

Leading Roles in Limited or Anthology Series or Movies

• Cate Blanchett, Disclaimer
• Meghann Fahy, Sirens
• Rashida Jones, Black Mirror
• Cristin Milloti, The Penguin
• Michelle Williams, Dying for Sex

Outstanding Lead Actors in Limited or Anthology Categories

• Colin Farrell, The Penguin
• Stephen Graham, Adolescence
• Jake Gyllenhaal, Presumed Innocent
• Brian Tyree Henry, Dope Thief
• Cooper Koch, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story

Supporting Actress Nominations in Drama Series

• Patricia Arquette, Severance
• Carrie Coon, The White Lotus
• Katherine LaNasa, The Pitt
• Julianne Nicholson, Paradise
• Parker Posey, The White Lotus
• Natasha Rothwell, The White Lotus
• Aimee Lou Wood, The White Lotus

Supporting Actor Nods in Drama Series

• Zach Cherry, Severance
• Walton Goggins, The White Lotus
• Jason Isaacs, The White Lotus
• James Marsden, Paradise
• Sam Rockwell, The White Lotus
• Tramell Tillman, Severance
• John Turturro, Severance

Supporting Actresses in Comedy Series

• Liza Colón-Zayas, The Bear
• Hannah Einbinder, Hacks
• Kathryn Hahn, The Studio
• Janelle James, Abbott Elementary
• Catherine O’Hara, The Studio
• Sheryl Lee Ralph, Abbott Elementary
• Jessica Williams, Shrinking

Supporting Actor Nominees in Comedy Series

• Ike Barinholtz, The Studio
• Colman Domingo, The Four Seasons
• Harrison Ford, Shrinking
• Jeff Hiller, Somebody Somewhere
• Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Bear
• Michael Urie, Shrinking
• Bowen Yang, Saturday Night Live

Supporting Actress Roles in Limited or Anthology Series or Movies

• Erin Doherty, Adolescence
• Ruth Negga, Presumed Innocent
• Deirdre O’Connell, The Penguin
• Chloë Sevigny, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
• Jenny Slate, Dying for Sex
• Christine Tremarco, Adolescence

Supporting Actor Contenders for Limited or Anthology Series or Movies

• Javier Bardem, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
• Bill Camp, Presumed Innocent
• Owen Cooper, Adolescence
• Rob Delaney, Dying for Sex
• Peter Sarsgaard, Presumed Innocent
• Ashley Walters, Adolescence

Distinguished Guest Actress Nominees in Drama Series

• Jane Alexander, Severance
• Gwendoline Christie, Severance
• Kaitlyn Dever, The Last of Us
• Cherry Jones, The Handmaid’s Tale
• Catherine O’Hara, The Last of Us
• Merritt Wever, Severance

Guest Actor Nominations in Drama Series

• Giancarlo Esposito, The Boys
• Scott Glenn, The White Lotus
• Shawn Hatosy, The Pitt
• Joe Pantoliano, The Last of Us
• Forest Whitaker, Andor
• Jeffrey Wright, The Last of Us

Guest Actress Nominations in Comedy Series

• Olivia Colman, The Bear
• Jamie Lee Curtis, The Bear
• Cynthia Erivo, Poker Face
• Robby Hoffman, Hacks
• Zoë Kravitz, The Studio
• Julianne Nicholson, Hacks

Guest Actor Nominees in Comedy Series

• Jon Bernthal, The Bear
• Bryan Cranston, The Studio
• Dave Franco, The Studio
• Ron Howard, The Studio
• Anthony Mackie, The Studio
• Martin Scorsese, The Studio

Directing Nominations for Drama Series

• Andor, Janus Metz (“Who Are You?”)
• The Pitt, Amanda Marsalis (“6 P.M.”)
• The Pitt, John Wells (“7 A.M.”)
• Severance, Jessica Lee Gagné (“Chikhai Bardo”)
• Severance, Ben Stiller (“Gold Harbor”)
• Slow Horses, Adam Randall (“Hello Goodbye”)
• The White Lotus, Mike White (“Amor Fati”)

Outstanding Directing for Comedy Series

• The Bear, Ayo Edebiri (“Napkins”)
• Hacks, Lucia Aniello (“A Slippery Slope”)
• Mid-Century Modern, James Burrows (“Here’s To You, Mrs. Schneiderman”)
• The Rehearsal, Nathan Fielder (“Pilot’s Code”)
• The Studio, Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg (“The Oner”)

Directing Nominations for Limited or Anthology Series or Movies

• Adolescence, Philip Barantini
• Dying for Sex, Shannon Murphy (“It’s Not That Serious”)
• The Penguin, Helen Shaver (“Cent’anni”)
• The Penguin, Jennifer Getzinger (“A Great or Little Thing”)
• Sirens, Nicole Kassell (“Exile”)
• Zero Day, Leslie Linka Glatter

Writing Nominations for Drama Series

• Andor, Dan Gilroy (“Welcome to the Rebellion”)
• The Pitt, Joe Sachs (“2 P.M.”)
• The Pitt, R. Scott Gemmill (“7 A.M.”)
• Severance, Dan Erickson (“Cold Harbor”)
• Slow Horses, Will Smith (“Hello Goodbye”)
• The White Lotus, Mike White (“Full-Moon Party”)

Writing Contenders for Comedy Series

• Abbott Elementary, Quinta Brunson (“Back To School”)
• Hacks, Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky (“A Slippery Slope”)
• The Rehearsal, Nathan Fielder, Carrie Kemper, Adam Lock-Norton and Eric Notarnicola (“Pilot’s Code”)
• Somebody Somewhere, Hanna Bos, Paul Thureen and Bridget Everett (“AGG”)
• The Studio, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Peter Huyck, Alex Gregory and Frida Perez (“The Promotion”)
• What We Do in the Shadows, Sam Johnson, Sarah Naftalis and Paul Simms (“The Finale”)

Top Limited or Anthology Series and Movie Writing Nominations

• Adolescence, Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham
• Black Mirror, Charlie Brooker and Bisha K. Ali (“Common People”)
• Dying for Sex, Kim Rosenstock and Elizabeth Meriwether (“Good Value Diet Soda”)
• The Penguin, Lauren LeFranc (“A Great or Little Thing”)
• Say Nothing, Joshua Zetumer (“The People in the Dirt”)

Leading Shows for Writing in Variety Series

• The Daily Show
• Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
• Saturday Night Live

Choreography Excellence in Variety and Reality Programming

• The Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show Starring Kendrick Lamar, featuring routines “Humble” and “Not Like Us.” Produced by Roc Nation, DPS, Jesse Collins Entertainment, and pgLang, choreographed by Charm La’Donna.
• Beyoncé Bowl, showcasing “My House,” “Sweet Honey Bucklin’,” and “Texas Hold ‘Em.” Produced by Jesse Collins Entertainment and Parkwood Entertainment for Netflix, with choreographers Tyrik Patterson, Charm La’Donna, Christopher Grant, and Parris Goebel.
• The 67th Annual Grammy Awards performance by Doechii, choreographed by Robbie Blue.
• The Hollywood Bowl’s The Lion King routine “He Lives In You,” choreographed by Jamal Sims.
• The Oscars tribute performances for James Bond and Quincy Jones, choreographed by Mandy Moore.

Noteworthy Directors Behind Variety Specials

• Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show directed by Hamish Hamilton, produced by Roc Nation, DPS, Jesse Collins Entertainment, and pgLang.
• Beyoncé Bowl directed by Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Alex Rudzinski, produced by Jesse Collins Entertainment and Parkwood Entertainment.
• The Oscars ceremony, helmed by Hamish Hamilton.
• SNL50: The Anniversary Special directed by Liz Patrick.
• SNL50: The Homecoming Concert directed by Beth McCarthy Miller.
• The 77th Annual Tony Awards directed by Glenn Weiss.

Music Direction Contenders Include Iconic Live Performances

• Kendrick Lamar and Tony Russell serve as music directors for the Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show, produced by Roc Nation and others.
• Rickey Minor leads music direction for The Kennedy Center Honors.
• Michael Bearden is music director for The Oscars.
• The SNL50 Anniversary Special features music direction by Lenny Pickett, Leon Pendarvis, and Eli Brueggemann.
• The SNL50 Homecoming Concert’s music direction is led by James Poyser and Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson.

Live Variety Specials Nominated for Outstanding Variety Special (Live)

• The Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show Starring Kendrick Lamar, executive producers include Shawn Carter, Desiree Perez, Jesse Collins, and Dave Free, with performances by Kendrick Lamar.
• Beyoncé Bowl, executive produced by Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Justina Omokhua, Jesse Collins, and Dionne Harmon.
• The Oscars, executive produced by Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan, hosted by Conan O’Brien.
• SNL50: The Anniversary Special, executive produced by Lorne Michaels, with contributions from Colin Jost and Michael Che.
• SNL50: The Homecoming Concert, produced under Lorne Michaels and Mark Ronson, hosted by Jimmy Fallon.

This year’s Emmy Awards represent a pivotal moment in entertainment, particularly due to the intense competition between Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar. Their innovative live performances have resonated widely, setting new standards for live entertainment on major American stages. The outcome of the Beyoncé 2025 Emmy Awards competition will not only recognize individual artistic achievement but also underscore the growing cultural impact of music at large-scale sporting events.

As the industry awaits the final results, the nominations highlight a broader trend of diversity, historic milestones, and evolving creative excellence that the Television Academy continues to embrace. With artists like Tramell Tillman and Ayo Edebiri breaking new ground alongside icons such as Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar, the 2025 Emmys promise a dynamic celebration of talent across multiple genres and disciplines.

Our Reader’s Queries

Q. Why did Beyoncé change her name?

A. Beyoncé has not formally altered her name. She is still known professionally as Beyoncé Knowles, despite being married to Jay-Z.

Q. Why did people unfollow Beyoncé?

A. People have noticed that Beyoncé often attends P. Diddy’s parties. This has made some think she knows more about what happens there. Because of this, many on social media have started sharing conspiracy theories about her. They often use J. Cole’s song “She Knows” in these posts. As a result, some of her fans decided to unfollow her on different social media platforms.

Q. Why is Beyoncé suddenly white?

A. Experts in styling think that the changes mostly came from makeup, lighting, and styling, not from skin-lightening products.

Q. Why did Beyoncé lose 4 million followers?

A. Beyoncé’s Instagram follower count dropped by over 4 million after rumors spread online about her attending Diddy’s all-white party. Many fans view her as a role model for young people and think she should set a good example. Some also believe Diddy unfairly influences her many awards.