Jay-Z will headline the Super Bowl LXI halftime show in February 2027, following reports that the rapper selected himself for the performance while overseeing the National Football League's (NFL) halftime entertainment through his company, Roc Nation.
The NFL, Apple Music and Roc Nation officially announced the news on Monday, 26 October, confirming that the 56-year-old music mogul will perform at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on 14 February 2027. The announcement follows a report that Jay-Z had chosen himself for the coveted slot after considering other artists, including Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber.
Jay-Z Confirmed for Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show
The news places Jay-Z in a new position within a show he has helped shape since Roc Nation partnered with the NFL in 2019. While the reported selection attracted attention because of his influence over the booking process, his participation is now officially confirmed.
Super Bowl LXI will take place on Valentine's Day in 2027, with Jay-Z set to lead the musical entertainment during the championship game. The rapper, whose real name is Shawn Carter, has built a career spanning music, business and artist management. He is a 25-time Grammy Award winner and is known for songs including 'Empire State of Mind', '99 Problems' and 'Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)'.
Jay-Z Chose Himself for the Performance
The reported selection drew attention because Jay-Z has considerable influence over the Super Bowl's musical programme through Roc Nation's partnership with the NFL. Multiple sources said Jay-Z had spent weeks weighing potential performers before deciding to headline the show himself. It described him as the key decision-maker in the selection process and said his own performance was considered a more compelling option than those of Cyrus and Bieber.
The news prompted discussion about the rapper's dual role as both a major figure in the organisation behind the halftime show and its newly confirmed headliner. Roc Nation entered its partnership with the NFL in 2019, taking on responsibilities related to the league's live entertainment and the Super Bowl halftime production. The agreement was extended in 2024 for another five years.
Before his own selection was announced, Jay-Z helped bring several high-profile artists to the halftime stage, including Rihanna in 2023, Usher in 2024, Kendrick Lamar in 2025, and Bad Bunny in 2026.
Jay-Z's Impact on Super Bowl Halftime Shows
Jay-Z's involvement with the NFL began amid wider debate about the league's handling of social justice issues, particularly the controversy surrounding former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and his protests against racial injustice.
The partnership brought Roc Nation into the NFL's entertainment planning, including selecting artists for one of the most-watched musical performances in the United States. Since then, the Super Bowl halftime show has featured performers from a range of genres, with hip-hop and R&B acts playing prominent roles in recent editions.
Jay-Z's appointment as the 2027 headliner will move him from shaping the event behind the scenes to performing on the main stage. His selection also follows a year of attention on Bad Bunny's 2026 performance, which some viewers criticised for its predominantly Spanish-language set.
Rapper and entrepreneur Jay-Z, who has served in an advisory role to the NFL through his company Roc Nation since 2019, announced he will perform at the Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show in February. Read more: https://cnn.it/4igod27
Posted by CNN International on Tuesday, October 27, 2026
When Is the 2027 Super Bowl Halftime Show?
Super Bowl LXI is scheduled for Sunday, 14 February 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The venue is home to the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers and has previously hosted major sporting and entertainment events.
Jay-Z recently performed a series of concerts celebrating milestones in his music career, including the 30th anniversary of his debut album, Reasonable Doubt, and the 25th anniversary of The Blueprint. His confirmed Super Bowl appearance will bring his music to one of the NFL's biggest annual audiences.
