JAY-Z to headline Super Bowl LXI halftime show at SoFi Stadium

LOS ANGELES — One of the most influential figures in hip-hop history is finally taking center stage at the Super Bowl.

JAY-Z will headline the Apple Music Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Feb. 14, 2027, the NFL, Apple Music and Roc Nation announced Monday, bringing the legendary rapper and music mogul to the biggest stage in sports entertainment.

The announcement marks a significant moment for JAY-Z, whose Roc Nation entertainment company has helped shape the Super Bowl halftime show for several years. After working behind the scenes to bring some of music's biggest stars to the NFL's championship game, the 25-time Grammy Award winner will now headline the event himself.

“From Reasonable Doubt to standing on the Super Bowl Halftime stage, this has been a journey,” JAY-Z said in a statement. “Thirty years of music, work, and culture on the world's biggest stage. This run continues to be a dream come true.”

The performance will take place during a milestone year for the 56-year-old artist, whose real name is Shawn Carter. The year 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of his groundbreaking debut album, Reasonable Doubt, which helped launch one of the most successful careers in music history.

The anniversary celebration, known as JAY-Z 30, has included immersive experiences, exclusive merchandise and a series of sold-out concerts around the world. JAY-Z broke attendance records with three sold-out performances at Yankee Stadium and also performed to sold-out crowds in London, Paris and Los Angeles.

Now, he will return to Southern California for what figures to be one of the most anticipated halftime performances in Super Bowl history.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he had hoped JAY-Z would eventually headline the show ever since the league first partnered with Roc Nation.

“For several years, we’ve had the privilege of working closely with JAŸ-Z and Roc Nation, and I’ve seen the extraordinary impact he has had on the Super Bowl Halftime Show,” Goodell said. “When we first reached an agreement with Roc Nation to produce the show, I had just one request: that JAŸ-Z take the stage himself one day, whenever the moment felt right to him. I couldn’t be more excited for fans around the world to experience the artistry, creativity and cultural impact he will bring to the Super Bowl stage.”

JAY-Z's involvement in the Super Bowl halftime show has helped usher in a new era of performances emphasizing hip-hop, contemporary music and cultural influence.

That partnership has produced several memorable halftime shows, including the star-studded performance at SoFi Stadium during Super Bowl LVI in February 2022, when Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar performed together in a celebration of hip-hop.

The performance earned three Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Variety Special (Live), marking the first time a Super Bowl halftime show received that honor.

More recently, Kendrick Lamar headlined Super Bowl LIX, delivering what became the most-watched Super Bowl halftime performance in history. Bad Bunny followed at Super Bowl LX, with his performance earning seven Emmy Awards, the most ever for a halftime show.

JAY-Z will now look to add his own chapter to that history.

His career has extended far beyond music. He became the first hip-hop artist inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021. He has also won four Emmy Awards and built a business empire spanning entertainment, sports, fashion and other industries.

Through Roc Nation, JAY-Z has played a prominent role in connecting professional sports with music and entertainment, making his upcoming appearance particularly meaningful given his longstanding relationship with the NFL.

Oliver Schusser, Apple's vice president of Music and International Content, said the company was excited to see JAY-Z transition from helping produce the halftime show to performing in it.

“JAŸ-Z's impact on global music culture is as profound as it is undeniable,” Schusser said. “We've had the privilege of working closely with him these last few years to bring some of the world's most exciting and prolific artists to the Super Bowl Halftime Show stage and we are so thrilled that he will be taking that stage himself this year. We know it's going to be an incredible show.”

Super Bowl LXI will also mark the NFL championship game's return to SoFi Stadium, which hosted Super Bowl LVI in 2022. That game featured the Los Angeles Rams defeating the Cincinnati Bengals, 23-20, to win the franchise's second Super Bowl championship.

The 2027 game will again place the Los Angeles area at the center of the sports and entertainment world, with JAY-Z's performance expected to be one of the weekend's biggest attractions.

Roc Nation will serve as executive producer of the halftime show, with Hamish Hamilton directing the performance. The company will also continue in its role as strategic entertainment advisor.

The game and halftime show will air nationally on ESPN, ABC and Disney+, with streaming available on mobile devices through NFL+. Spanish-language coverage will be available on ESPN Deportes, Disney+ and Univision.

Additional details about the performance, including potential special guests and the setlist, have not been announced.

For JAY-Z, who has spent years helping other artists deliver unforgettable Super Bowl performances, the opportunity to finally headline the show himself represents another milestone in a career that has spanned three decades.

And this time, the spotlight at SoFi Stadium will belong to him.