Jay-Z has reportedly chosen himself to headline the Super Bowl LXI halftime show, potentially taking the stage at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on February 14, 2027.
According to Puck News, the 56-year-old rapper is expected to perform at the NFL’s annual sporting spectacle after overseeing the selection of its musical acts for several years.
Jay-Z signed a reported $5 million-a-year agreement with the NFL in 2019 to oversee the halftime show’s musical production and artist selection.
The deal was renewed in 2024, with Roc Nation continuing to produce the entertainment segment.
The rapper’s reported decision comes after speculation that Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber and Harry Styles were among the artists being considered for the high-profile performance.
NFL and Roc Nation Decline to Confirm Reports
When approached by the Daily Mail on Tuesday morning, Roc Nation declined to comment on the record.
The NFL also declined to confirm the report, reiterating that it announces official details when a decision is ready to be made public.
The Daily Mail previously reported on September 18 that Jay-Z was considering performing at the halftime show himself.
At the time, both Roc Nation and the NFL strongly denied the suggestion.
Jay-Z, who is married to Beyoncé and has three children with the singer, has not previously performed at the Super Bowl halftime show as a solo headliner.
Rapper Celebrates Milestones in His Music Career
The billionaire rapper has an extensive catalogue of hits to draw from if he takes the stage in 2027.
He is currently celebrating the 30th anniversary of his debut album, Reasonable Doubt, and the 25th anniversary of The Blueprint.
Jay-Z is scheduled to perform twice at SoFi Stadium this week as part of his ongoing celebrations.
Earlier this summer, the 25-time Grammy Award winner reportedly generated more than $42 million from three sold-out performances at Yankee Stadium.
He has also headlined the Roots Picnic festival in Philadelphia and performed to large audiences in Paris and London.
His most recent studio album, 4:44, was released in 2017 and went double platinum.
Beyoncé Previously Performed at the Super Bowl
Although Jay-Z has yet to appear as a Super Bowl halftime headliner, Beyoncé has performed at the event twice.
She headlined the 2013 halftime show in New Orleans before returning as a special guest during Coldplay’s performance in 2016 in Santa Clara.
Bruno Mars also appeared during that performance.
Jay-Z has played a central role in selecting performers since Roc Nation began overseeing the halftime show, with recent choices including Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar and Bad Bunny.
Bad Bunny’s Halftime Show Drew Global Attention
Bad Bunny’s performance earlier this year attracted considerable debate because the Puerto Rican artist performed entirely in Spanish.
The show generated records for global viewership and social media engagement, although it did not become the most-watched halftime performance in US television history.
The performance averaged 128.2 million viewers between 8.15pm and 8.30pm Eastern Time, making it the fourth-most-watched halftime show, according to the figures cited in the report.
Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 performance ranked first with 133.5 million viewers, followed by Michael Jackson’s 1993 show with 133.4 million and Usher’s 2024 performance with 129.3 million.
Speaking to GQ in an interview published in April 2026, Jay-Z defended his approach to selecting performers and said the halftime show should reflect the full range of popular music.
“I think everyone should experience music in its totality,” he said, adding that the opportunity allowed organisers to present a more balanced representation of contemporary popular music.
Jay-Z also defended choosing Bad Bunny, describing him as the world’s most-streamed artist at the time.
Jay-Z Defends Kendrick Lamar’s Selection
Kendrick Lamar’s appointment as the 2025 halftime headliner had also prompted debate, but Jay-Z rejected suggestions that the rapper was a difficult choice to justify.
Jay-Z pointed to Lamar’s record-breaking audience and successful year in music as reasons for selecting him.
“The stats show. Kendrick broke the audience record,” he said during the GQ interview, arguing that the artist represented contemporary music and deserved a place on the Super Bowl’s biggest stage.
He also addressed the public dispute between Lamar and Drake, dismissing suggestions that his decision was part of an effort to undermine Drake.
Jay-Z compared the rivalry to his own past feud with rapper Nas, explaining that such disagreements often develop over time rather than emerging from a single incident.
He also said he regretted aspects of his dispute with Nas because he liked him personally.
No official announcement has yet confirmed who will perform at the Super Bowl LXI halftime show.
