Jay-Z Set to Headline Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show at SoFi Stadium

Jay-Z, the executive who has helped shape the Super Bowl halftime show for years, will be the performer at the center of it. The NFL, Apple Music and Roc Nation announced Monday night that the rapper will headline the halftime show on Feb. 14 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he had made one request when the league first reached an agreement with Roc Nation: that Jay-Z perform himself "whenever the moment felt right to him."

In a statement, Jay-Z reflected on his path. "From 'Reasonable Doubt' to standing on the Super Bowl halftime stage, this has been a journey," 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 follows the end of his celebration of the 30th anniversary of "Reasonable Doubt," his 1996 debut album. That run included three sold-out shows at Yankee Stadium and sold-out performances in London and Paris. It concluded with a stop at SoFi Stadium this past weekend, the same venue that will host the Super Bowl.

Roc Nation has partnered with the NFL since 2019 to advise on and help produce the league's entertainment presentations, including the halftime show. At the time, Jay-Z said he had told Goodell, "If this is about me performing at the Super Bowl, then we can just end this conversation now." Seven years later, he has decided to perform after all.

Born Shawn Carter, Jay-Z has won 25 Grammy Awards and received 89 nominations, the second-most in history behind his wife, Beyoncé, who has performed at two Super Bowls. His catalog includes the albums "The Blueprint" and "The Black Album," along with hits such as "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)," "99 Problems" and "Empire State of Mind," a collaboration with Alicia Keys. "Reasonable Doubt" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame last year.

His recent concerts featured a rotating lineup of guests. At SoFi Stadium, his daughter Blue Ivy played piano on "The Story of O.J." and "Dead Presidents," while Scarface, John Legend and DJ Khaled joined him on opening night. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Too $hort appeared at Saturday's finale. Earlier in the run, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Eminem and Nas were among the guests at Yankee Stadium.

The Brooklyn rapper has also built a career as an executive and entrepreneur. He co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records and founded Roc Nation in 2008, growing it into an entertainment company that works with artists and athletes. He became the first rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2017, joined the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021, and is a four-time Emmy winner.

Roc Nation will executive produce the show, with Hamish Hamilton directing. Bad Bunny performed at last season's Super Bowl in February, and the show averaged 128.2 million viewers, making it the fourth-most-watched halftime show behind Kendrick Lamar in 2025 (133.5 million), Michael Jackson in 1993 (133.4 million) and Usher in 2024 (129.3 million). Bad Bunny's performance won a record seven Emmys. Super Bowl LXI will be broadcast on ESPN and ABC and streamed on Disney+.