Jay-Z will headline the Super Bowl halftime show for the first time, the NFL confirmed Monday, ending years of speculation about whether the rapper would eventually step from behind the curtain of a production he has overseen since 2019 to perform on it himself.
Jay-Z's company, Roc Nation, has produced the halftime show under a deal with the league since 2019 and the rapper, whose real name is Shawn Carter, plays a central role each year in selecting the performer, but had never previously taken the stage. Super Bowl LXI will be played on February 14 at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles.
"A dream come true"
"From 'Reasonable Doubt' to standing on the Super Bowl halftime stage, this has been a journey," Jay-Z said in a statement, referencing his 1996 debut album, which is marking its 30th anniversary this year. "Thirty years of music, work, and culture on the world's biggest stage. This run continues to be a dream come true." NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said he "couldn't be more excited for fans around the world to experience the artistry, creativity and cultural impact he will bring," adding that when the league first struck its deal with Roc Nation, "I had just one request: that Jay-Z take the stage himself one day, whenever the moment felt right to him."
The announcement followed two shows Jay-Z played last weekend at SoFi Stadium itself, part of a tour marking the Reasonable Doubt anniversary. The NFL's own statement teased the possibility of guest appearances during the halftime show, noting that "anticipation as to who Jay-Z might have guest star at halftime for the big game will now kick off," and adding dryly that "of course, his wife, Beyoncé, will be atop the list."
Following a hard act
Jay-Z will follow a run of recent halftime performers that includes Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar, Usher, Rihanna and The Weeknd. Lamar's 2025 show was the most-watched Super Bowl halftime performance in history and won an Emmy for outstanding music direction, setting a high bar for whoever came next. Jay-Z's own résumé includes 25 Grammy awards, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021, and recognition as the first rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame — credentials that have made his absence from the stage, even as its de facto producer, something of a running question among fans for years.
