Jay-Z will headline the Apple Music Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show on Feb. 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, the NFL announced this week. The reveal came during ESPN’s Monday Night Football broadcast on Oct. 26, putting the Brooklyn rapper and Roc Nation founder on the biggest stage in American entertainment for the first time as a performer.
What We Know
The league confirmed the news during the Dallas Cowboys–Philadelphia Eagles game, and it was quickly picked up by Yahoo Sports, Sports Illustrated and The Hollywood Reporter. The game will air on ESPN, ABC and Disney+, with mobile streaming on NFL+.
In a statement released by the NFL, Jay-Z reflected on how far he has come since his debut album: “From Reasonable Doubt to standing on the Super Bowl Halftime stage, this has been a journey. 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 made clear the booking was a long time coming. “I had just one request: that JAY-Z take the stage himself one day, whenever the moment felt right to him,” he said in a statement quoted by Sports Illustrated.
Background
The announcement closes a loop that began in 2019, when Jay-Z’s Roc Nation struck a partnership with the NFL to produce the halftime show and lead the league’s live music strategy. Since then, Roc Nation has staged shows headlined by Shakira and Jennifer Lopez, The Weeknd, Rihanna, Usher, Kendrick Lamar and, most recently, Bad Bunny, whose show drew a record 4.157 billion views in its first 24 hours across broadcast and digital platforms, according to Yahoo Sports.
Jay-Z himself had stayed behind the scenes until now. Yahoo Sports noted that Puck reported the previous week that he was in line for the slot, with Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber also said to have been considered.
The timing fits a landmark year for the 25-time Grammy winner. His 2026 stadium run celebrated the 30th anniversary of Reasonable Doubt and the 25th anniversary of The Blueprint, with sold-out nights at Yankee Stadium, dates in London and Paris, and two shows at SoFi Stadium on Oct. 23 and 24. According to the NFL, guests on the tour included Blue Ivy Carter, John Legend, DJ Khaled, Too Short, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg.
SoFi Stadium is also familiar halftime territory. Super Bowl LVI was held there in 2022, when Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and a lineup of West Coast and hip-hop stars took the stage.
Reactions
Fan attention online quickly turned to one question: will Beyoncé join her husband? She headlined the Super Bowl XLVII halftime show and appeared as a guest at Super Bowl 50, and People reported that fans are hoping for a cameo. Neither the NFL nor Jay-Z’s team has announced any special guests, so for now that remains pure speculation.
What’s Next
Super Bowl LXI kicks off on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2027. Guest performers, set details and the pregame lineup, including the national anthem singer, are typically announced in the weeks leading up to the game. Expect more news from the NFL and Roc Nation over the winter.
Want more music profiles? Read our biographies of Megan Thee Stallion, who has worked with Roc Nation management, and Teyana Taylor.
Sources
- NFL.com – Jay-Z to headline Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show
- Yahoo Sports – Jay-Z to headline Super Bowl LXI halftime show
- Sports Illustrated – Jay-Z officially announced as 2027 headliner
- The Hollywood Reporter – Jay-Z to headline 2027 Super Bowl LXI
- People – PEOPLE in 10, Oct. 29, 2026