Jay-Z to headline Super Bowl halftime in Inglewood

Jay-Z will perform as the featured artist at the Super Bowl halftime show on Feb. 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The announcement was made Monday night by the NFL, Apple Music, and Roc Nation, ending days of speculation about the night's entertainment.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stated that his primary request during initial negotiations with Roc Nation was for Jay-Z to take the stage himself whenever the moment felt right. Goodell noted that the league had been working with Jay-Z's company since 2019 to advise on and produce the league's entertainment presentations. This partnership marks a shift from Jay-Z's earlier position, where he told Goodell in 2019 that if the deal was about him performing, they could end the conversation immediately.

Jay-Z, born Shawn Carter, expressed his excitement in a statement released with the announcement. He described the move from his 1996 debut album 'Reasonable Doubt' to the Super Bowl stage as a journey spanning thirty years of music and culture. He called the performance a dream come true that continues his current run of achievements.

The decision to headline the show comes shortly after Jay-Z concluded a concert tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of 'Reasonable Doubt'. The tour included three sold-out shows at Yankee Stadium in New York, as well as sold-out performances in London and Paris. His final stop over the weekend was SoFi Stadium, where he performed for a large audience. During that final show, his daughter Blue Ivy played piano on two tracks, while Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Too $hort appeared during the finale.

Jay-Z holds 25 Grammy Awards and 89 nominations, the second-most in history behind his wife, Beyoncé. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2017. His catalog includes albums such as 'The Blueprint' and 'The Black Album', alongside hit songs like 'Empire State of Mind' and '99 Problems'. Last year, 'Reasonable Doubt' was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Roc Nation will executive produce the halftime show, with Hamish Hamilton serving as the director. The Super Bowl halftime show has recently become a major award contender, with Bad Bunny's performance in February winning a record seven Emmy Awards, including for best variety special. Kendrick Lamar's performance in the previous year won an Emmy for music direction.

The event will take place at SoFi Stadium, a venue that has hosted major international events in the Los Angeles area. The halftime show is a global broadcast, reaching audiences across continents, and the selection of Jay-Z signals a continuation of the NFL's strategy to blend major musical acts with the league's flagship game.