Kendrick Lamar and SZA have made history on the Billboard 200 chart, securing the top two spots following their Super Bowl halftime performance. Lamar’s album GNX ascends from No. 4 to No. 1, marking its second nonconsecutive week at the top, while SZA’s SOS climbs from No. 3 to No. 2. This marks the first time two performers from the Super Bowl halftime show have landed in the top two positions on the Billboard 200 chart in the immediate aftermath of their performance.
The surge in album sales can be attributed to more than just the exposure from the halftime show. GNX saw a significant boost after being made available in physical formats on February 7, sparking Lamar’s best sales week since 2017. SZA’s SOS, which was reissued on February 9 with four bonus tracks, also saw a surge in its chart performance.
The chart data reflects U.S. activity from February 7-13, with the full Billboard 200 for the week of February 22 set to be released on February 19, delayed by the Presidents’ Day holiday.
Lamar’s achievement marks the first time a Super Bowl performer has claimed the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 since Justin Timberlake in 2018, when his album Man of the Woods debuted at the top after his halftime show performance.
During the Super Bowl halftime show, Lamar and SZA performed “Luther” from GNX and “All the Stars” from the Black Panther soundtrack, providing a preview of their upcoming co-headlining tour. The Grand National Tour is set to kick off on April 19 in Minneapolis, making stops across the U.S. and Canada before heading to Europe, with the final show scheduled for August 9 in Stockholm.
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