Jay-Z to headline Apple Music Super Bowl LXI

Rapper Jay-Z will headline the Apple Music Super Bowl LXI Half-Time Show on February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, after serving as the NFL’s advisory role through his company Roc Nation since 2019.

The announcement closes a loop that began seven years ago. When the NFL first reached an agreement with Roc Nation to oversee its entertainment presentations, league commissioner Roger Goodell made a single request. He asked that the hip-hop mogul eventually take the stage himself whenever the moment felt right. The league confirmed that the moment had arrived.

For Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, the milestone arrives as he wraps up a sprawling anniversary tour. He recently performed two closing nights at SoFi Stadium following three sold-out shows at Yankee Stadium in July and stops in Paris and London. Those concerts celebrated thirty years since the release of his debut album, Reasonable Doubt, and twenty-five years since The Blueprint.

JAŸ-Z headlines #AppleMusicHalftime | Apple Music SBLXI Halftime Show

Jay-Z Steps Into the Spotlight After Seven Years Behind the Scenes

Since 2019, Roc Nation has shaped the league’s high-profile musical interludes, advising on talent selection and production. That partnership brought massive audiences, including Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 performance, which drew record viewership and captured an Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction. Other recent headliners include Usher, Rihanna, The Weeknd, and Bad Bunny, whose set celebrated Puerto Rican heritage.

Throughout his tenure as an adviser, Jay-Z kept his own name off the performer roster. When asked years ago about headlining the championship game, he recounted telling Goodell that if the conversation was about him performing, it could end immediately. Now, the man who spent years picking the talent has chosen himself.

Jay-Z will perform at the Super Bowl half-time show next year. Getty Images — Photo: thenationalnews.com

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.

Jay-Z, via BBC

What the 2027 SoFi Stadium Performance Means for the Franchise

League leadership expressed clear enthusiasm for the booking. Goodell said he couldn’t be more excited for global audiences to experience the artistry and cultural impact the artist will bring to Inglewood.

The announcement immediately sparked heavy speculation regarding potential guest stars. The NFL noted in its statement that his wife, Beyoncé, will be at the top of the list for possible appearances. Beyoncé previously headlined the Super Bowl XLVII halftime show in New Orleans in 2013, where she reunited with her Destiny’s Child bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. She returned in 2016 as a guest performer during Coldplay’s set alongside Bruno Mars.

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

Recent tour stops in Los Angeles featured guest appearances from Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, John Legend, DJ Khaled, Scarface, Too Short, and the couple’s daughter, Blue Ivy Carter. Whether any of those artists will join him on February 14, 2027, remains unknown as preparations begin for the Apple Music-sponsored production.

His recorded output spans multiple acclaimed studio releases, including Reasonable Doubt, “The Blueprint,” and The Black Album. Alongside these full-length records, his discography features prominent tracks such as Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem), “99 Problems,” and Empire State of Mind, which featured a collaboration alongside Alicia Keys. His debut studio album from 1996, Reasonable Doubt, received an induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Beyond recording and performing music, his professional pursuits stretch into artist management, music publishing, and sports ventures.

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JULY 05: Jay-Z attends the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Brazil and Norway at — Photo: gulfcoastnewsnow.com

The ongoing partnership between Roc Nation and the league encompasses advisory duties and production assistance for entertainment presentations across the NFL calendar. During the anniversary celebrations preceding the big game announcement, the artist also participated in an eight-part documentary project titled “Jay-Z 8,” where he sat down with producer Rick Rubin to converse about tracks drawn from across his musical catalogue.