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Jay-Z has been announced as the Super Bowl LXI halftime show performer, capping a banner year by doing something few artists have: choosing himself to headline one of the world’s biggest stages for the first time ever.
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In partnership with Jay-Z’s entertainment company Roc Nation, Apple Music and the National Football League announced Monday, Oct. 26, that the Grammy-winning rapper will headline Apple Music Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show, which will take place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Feb. 14, 2027.
The official announcement was made at the start of halftime during Monday Night Football’s matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys.
The big game will air on ESPN, ABC and Disney+ with mobile streaming available through NFL+.
Leading up to the announcement, fans were speculating that Jay-Z could be a strong contender for the halftime show given his banner year.
Over the prior weekend, Jay-Z wrapped his “Jay-Z 30” concert series with two shows near Los Angeles on Oct. 23 and Oct. 24.
The performances, which took place at the very same SoFi Stadium where he would be putting on a (likely) career-spanning set during the Super Bowl, brought out a Destiny’s Child’s reunion in the crowd as well as special appearances on stage by John Legend, DJ Khaled, Scarface, Too Short, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and daughter Blue Ivy Carter.
His concert series included three massive hometown shows in New York in July, a two-night stint in London on Sept. 4 and 5 and one night in Paris on Sept. 10.
He also recently debuted his “Jay-Z in 8” HBO documentary series with a star-studded premiere in New York.
This will mark the first time the rap titan will take over the Super Bowl stage, but he’s had a hand in the halftime show for years.
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Has Jay Z done the Super Bowl before?
In 2019, Jay-Z’s company, Roc Nation, was named the NFL’s live music entertainment strategist as a part of the NFL’s Inspire Change Initiative. The initiative also focuses on the league’s social justice efforts and was launched following the NFL’s controversial treatment of former player Colin Kaepernick, who kneeled during the national anthem to protest police brutality during the 2016 season.
Fans may recall that Jay-Z famously turned down the Super Bowl halftime performance back in 2017. He later revealed that decision was based on “principle” when the NFL requested he bring out rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, and Rihanna.
Lady Gaga took the stage that year. Since then, Roc Nation is credited with highlighting more diverse musical talent during the Super Bowl.
Wife Beyoncé performed at Super Bowl halftime in 2013, 2016
His wife, Beyoncé, has performed at the Super Bowl twice. She first hit the halftime stage Feb 3. 2013, bringing out fellow Destiny’s Child members Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
Beyoncé kicked off the 12-minute performance with an a cappella version of her hit “Love on Top.” The show racked up 110.8 million viewers, becoming the second-most-watched Super Bowl in history at that time.
She also graced the Super Bowl stage on Feb. 7, 2016, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., joining Bruno Mars and Coldplay, who headlined the halftime show. Her performance of her hit “Formation” became a notable moment as some politicians and fans described the performance as a statement of Black pride.
Super Bowl halftime show history
The Super Bowl first launched a halftime show with a musical superstar in 1993, when Michael Jackson performed onstage.
Here is every Super Bowl halftime performance since:
- Super Bowl 27 (1993): Michael Jackson
- Super Bowl 28 (1994): Clint Black, Travis Tritt, Tanya Tucker, Wynonna and Naomi Judd
- Super Bowl 29 (1995): Patti LaBelle and Tony Bennett
- Super Bowl 30 (1996): Diana Ross
- Super Bowl 31 (1997): James Brown, ZZ Top and The Blues Brothers
- Super Bowl 32 (1998): Boyz II Men, Smokey Robinson, Queen Latifah, The Temptations
- Super Bowl 33 (1999): Gloria Estefan, Stevie Wonder, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
- Super Bowl 34 (2000): Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, Toni Braxton, Phil Collins
- Super Bowl 35 (2001): NSYNC, Aerosmith, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, Nelly
- Super Bowl 36 (2002): U2
- Super Bowl 37 (2003): Shania Twain, No Doubt, Sting
- Super Bowl 38 (2004): Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Kid Rock, P. Diddy, Nelly, Jessica Simpson
- Super Bowl 39 (2005): Paul McCartney
- Super Bowl 40 (2006): The Rolling Stones
- Super Bowl 41 (2007): Prince
- Super Bowl 42 (2008): Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
- Super Bowl 43 (2009): Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
- Super Bowl 44 (2010): The Who
- Super Bowl 45 (2011): The Black Eyed Peas, Usher
- Super Bowl 46 (2012): Madonna, Nicki Minaj, LMFAO, M.I.A., Cee Lo Green
- Super Bowl 47 (2013): Beyoncé, Destiny’s Child
- Super Bowl 48 (2014): Bruno Mars, Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Super Bowl 49 (2015): Katy Perry, Lenny Kravitz, Missy Elliott
- Super Bowl 50 (2016): Coldplay, Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, Mark Ronson
- Super Bowl 51 (2017): Lady Gaga
- Super Bowl 52 (2018): Justin Timberlake
- Super Bowl 53 (2019): Maroon 5, Travis Scott, Big Boi
- Super Bowl 54 (2020): Jennifer Lopez, Shakira
- Super Bowl 55 (2021): The Weeknd
- Super Bowl 56 (2022): Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, Anderson .Paak
- Super Bowl 57 (2023): Rihanna
- Super Bowl 58 (2024): Usher, Alicia Keys, Ludacris, Lil’ Jon, Jermaine Dupri, H.E.R.
- Super Bowl 59 (2025): Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Mustard
- Super Bowl 60 (2026): Bad Bunny
Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network’s Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Jay-Z will headline the Super Bowl halftime show in 2027
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Reporting by Caché McClay, USA TODAY NETWORK / Nashville Tennessean
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect
This story was originally published October 26, 2026 at 7:06 PM.