Jay-Z has officially been confirmed as the headliner for the Apple Music Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show in February.
After weeks of speculation that the 56-year-old rapper had chosen himself to perform at the game, ESPN, which will broadcast this season’s Super Bowl, announced that he will take the stage.
A brief black-and-white video aired during halftime of Monday night’s game between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles. It showed the artist sitting in the stands, beneath the words: “Goat’s out of the bag.”
In 2019, the iconic rapper and his Roc Nation company signed a $5 million-a-year agreement with the NFL to oversee the music spectacle. That deal was renewed in 2024.
Since assuming that role, Jay-Z has helped select performers including Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar and Bad Bunny. Now, he is stepping into the spotlight himself for this year’s NFL showdown, which will be held at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Valentine’s Day.
“From Reasonable Doubt to standing on the Super Bowl Halftime stage, this has been a journey,” Jay-Z said in a statement released shortly after the announcement. “Thirty years of music, work, and culture on the world’s biggest stage. This run continues to be a dream come true.”
Jay-Z has officially been named the headliner for this season’s Super Bowl halftime show
ESPN revealed the news in a short video shown during Monday night’s game
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell welcomed the decision and said Jay-Z’s performance had been years in the making.
“For several years, we’ve had the privilege of working closely with Jay-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 Jay-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.”
The Daily Mail first reported on September 18 that Jay-Z, who is married to Beyonce and shares three children with her, was considering performing at the Halftime Show. Roc Nation and the NFL strongly denied the report at the time.
When speculation first emerged that the “99 Problems” hitmaker could headline this season’s event, football fans mocked the possibility across the internet.
Critics flooded social media with taunts, jokes and memes aimed at his reported decision to select himself.
Jay-Z appeared to respond to the backlash during an unusual weekend rant about artificial intelligence.
On Saturday, he discussed A.I. during a concert at SoFi Stadium, the same venue that will host February’s NFL finale.
Jay-Z discussed A.I. during a concert after facing backlash over speculation that he would perform
The rap icon has recently helped choose performers including Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar and Bad Bunny
“People will tell you that nobody was in here tonight, but you got eyes,” he began.
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“You can see. People will tell you that the music wasn’t great, but you got ears. You gotta understand, you gotta question everything. It’s been this world of AI and everything.”
“I mean, it’s been going on forever, right? We called it propaganda before, but now with the technology, it’s caught up. It’s a beautiful trick. A lot of tricknology. It’s called artificial intelligence ’cause it’s been against you guys.”
“It’s been against us. We got real intelligence, not artificial intelligence. We feel, right? This concert tonight, we felt. When Stupid Drake came out, we felt that s***, correct?”
“Make sure you question everything you feel. Machines are learning you. You tell them your swag, you tell them your name, you tell them anything, and then it mimics you. Can’t be you.”
Before Jay-Z’s selection was confirmed, reports suggested that he and Roc Nation had considered Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber and Harry Styles for one of America’s most prominent entertainment events.
Jay-Z has never performed at the Super Bowl, although his wife Beyonce headlined the 2013 halftime show in New Orleans. She returned as a special guest alongside Bruno Mars during Coldplay’s performance in Santa Clara in 2016.
The rapper has not released an album since “4:44,” which arrived in 2017 and went double-platinum.
Jay-Z’s wife, Beyonce (center), previously performed at the 2013 Super Bowl halftime show
Jay-Z and Roc Nation oversee production of the Super Bowl halftime show
Born Shawn Carter, Jay-Z has won 25 Grammy Awards from 89 nominations, the second-highest total in history behind Beyonce.
His discography includes “Reasonable Doubt,” “The Blueprint” and “The Black Album,” along with hits such as “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem),” “99 Problems” and “Empire State of Mind,” his collaboration with Alicia Keys.
His 1996 debut album, “Reasonable Doubt,” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame last year.
Jay-Z has also built a career in music publishing, artist management and sports. He co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records and launched Roc Nation in 2008, developing it into an entertainment company representing artists and athletes.
Bad Bunny’s halftime performance last year—the first show not performed in English—sparked significant debate and controversy, prompting Jay-Z to explain how each act is selected.
“I think everyone should experience music in its totality,” he told GQ.
Justin Bieber and Harry Styles were among the performers rumored to be under consideration
“And for a lot of years, it was only one side of music that was being represented. We got the opportunity to create a more balanced idea of what popular music is today.”
“I’m not going out on a limb, this is the most famous people in the world. I didn’t pick, like, the indie artist that I really like from Portland—I picked the number one most streamed artist in the world. Him!”
Despite the controversy, Bad Bunny’s performance broke global viewership and social media records, although it did not surpass the most-watched show in U.S. television history.
