Jay-Z headlining the Super Bowl LXI halftime show in 2027 will mark a major milestone for the rapper and be a full-circle moment. He has helped select the event’s performers for years. After decades of shaping hip-hop, business, and popular culture, he will move from choosing some of music’s biggest halftime acts to taking center stage himself.
Jay-Z goes from picking Super Bowl halftime performers to taking the stage in 2027
Roc Nation and Apple Music announced Jay-Z as the next Super Bowl halftime performer. They revealed this during ESPN’s Monday Night Football broadcast featuring the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. Roc Nation also shared the news on Instagram, posting a clip of the rapper sitting inside a football stadium with the caption, “GOAT’s out of the bag.”
Jay-Z shared his thoughts in a statement. “From Reasonable Doubt to standing on the Super Bowl halftime stage, this has been a journey,” he said. Additionally, he said, “Thirty years of music, work, and culture on the world’s biggest stage. This run continues to be a dream come true.”
The announcement marks a significant shift for the rapper, who has helped shape the NFL’s halftime show for several years. In 2027, he will take center stage and perform. The NFL will host Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Jay-Z’s upcoming performance carries added significance because of his longstanding partnership with the NFL. In 2019, the league partnered with the rapper and his entertainment company, Roc Nation, to help shape its live music programming and support social justice initiatives. Jay-Z selected the halftime performers, bringing some of music’s biggest names to the Super Bowl stage.
Moreover, Halftime producer Jesse Collins told Variety that the rapper had made the final decision every year since Roc Nation became involved. “It’s a decision that Jay makes,” Collins said. “Since we’ve been on board with that show, he’s made it every year, and it’s been amazing. He’s always picked right.”
