American rap icon Jay-Z is set to headline the Super Bowl LXI halftime show in February, marking his first performance at the NFL championship event despite playing a central role in organising the musical spectacle in recent years.
The National Football League (NFL) announced the development, confirming that the rapper, whose real name is Shawn Carter, will take centre stage at the event scheduled for February 14 near Los Angeles.
Jay-Z’s appearance will be a significant moment in his relationship with the Super Bowl, having overseen the halftime show through his entertainment company, Roc Nation, since 2019.
The company has been responsible for producing the show and helping select performers, with Jay-Z remaining behind the scenes until now.
In a statement, the NFL highlighted the excitement surrounding the announcement, particularly speculation about which guest artists could join the rapper on stage.
“Anticipation as to who Jay-Z might have guest star at halftime for the big game will now kick off,” the league said, adding that his wife, global music star Beyoncé, would likely be among the names fans expect to see.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell welcomed the decision, saying he was looking forward to audiences experiencing the rapper’s creativity and cultural influence.
Goodell revealed that when the NFL first partnered with Roc Nation to produce the halftime show, he had asked Jay-Z to perform at the event whenever he felt the time was right.
“I couldn’t be more excited for fans around the world to experience the artistry, creativity and cultural impact he will bring,” Goodell said.
Jay-Z also described the opportunity as the culmination of decades of work in music and culture.
“From ‘Reasonable Doubt’ to standing on the Super Bowl halftime stage, this has been a journey,” he said, referring to his debut album, which celebrates its 30th anniversary.
“Thirty years of music, work, and culture on the world’s biggest stage. This run continues to be a dream come true.”
The announcement followed two performances by Jay-Z at the Los Angeles stadium last weekend as part of a tour marking three decades since the release of Reasonable Doubt.
He will follow a line of major performers who have appeared at recent Super Bowl halftime shows, including Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar, Usher, Rihanna and The Weeknd.
The halftime performance has become one of the biggest events in global entertainment, attracting millions of viewers beyond the NFL’s core audience.
Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 performance set a record as the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show and earned an Emmy Award for outstanding music direction.
Jay-Z brings an extensive list of achievements to the stage, including 25 Grammy Awards, induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame as its first rapper, and entry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021.
His upcoming performance will add another milestone to a career that has extended beyond music into business and cultural influence.
