Jay-Z Super Bowl halftime performance plans have taken a major turn, with the NFL announcing that the rap icon will headline the entertainment show in February.
The announcement marks a new chapter for Jay-Z, whose company, Roc Nation, has produced the Super Bowl halftime show since 2019. Although he has helped select performers over the years, the rapper has never taken the stage himself at the championship game.
The NFL said the announcement would spark speculation about possible guest appearances. His wife, global music star Beyoncé, is expected to feature prominently in discussions about potential guests.
Super Bowl LXI is scheduled for February 14 near Los Angeles.
Jay-Z Super Bowl Halftime Show Marks a New Milestone
Jay-Z will follow a list of major artists who have performed at recent Super Bowl halftime shows. They include Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar, Usher, Rihanna and The Weeknd.
The halftime performance attracts worldwide attention, with millions of viewers tuning in alongside the American football championship.
Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 show became the most-watched Super Bowl halftime performance in history and earned an Emmy Award for outstanding music direction.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell welcomed Jay-Z’s upcoming performance, praising the creativity and cultural influence he could bring to the global event.
Goodell also revealed that he had asked Jay-Z to perform when the NFL first partnered with Roc Nation to produce the show. He said he wanted the rapper to take the stage whenever he felt the time was right.
Rapper Celebrates 30 Years of Reasonable Doubt
The announcement followed two performances Jay-Z gave last weekend at the Los Angeles stadium set to host the Super Bowl.
The shows formed part of celebrations marking 30 years since the release of his debut album, Reasonable Doubt.
Jay-Z described the upcoming appearance as a dream come true after three decades of music and cultural influence.
His career achievements include 25 Grammy Awards and becoming the first rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He also joined the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021.
His Super Bowl appearance will add another major moment to a career that has shaped hip-hop and the wider music industry.