What was one speculation is now official. Jay-Z is indeed headlining the Super Bowl Halftime Show.
During halftime of the Philadelphia Eagles vs. the Dallas Cowboys on “Monday Night Football,” Apple Music aired a black-and-white advertisement with the Brooklyn rapper surrounded by goats in an empty stadium. Soundtracked to “PSA,” the announcement then switched to a simple message: “Goat’s Out Of The Bag.”
Throughout the summer, Jay has been using various stadium shows as a test run for what is annually seen as the most-viewed musical performance of the year. In July, he performed three dates at Yankee Stadium in New York before heading overseas for shows in Paris and London. Over the weekend, he played two shows at SoFi Stadium with several major guests, including John Legend, DJ Khaled, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Too Short and Scarface.
Before the announcement, he served as the individual who, through his Roc Nation imprint, curated the halftime performers for America’s biggest sporting event. Since 2019, Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, The Weeknd, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, Rihanna, Usher and Bad Bunny all performed on the halftime stage to record ratings and Emmy Award wins.
“From Reasonable Doubt to standing on the Super Bowl Halftime stage, this has been a journey,” Jay-Z said in a statement. “Thirty years of music, work, and culture on the world’s biggest stage. This run continues to be a dream come true.”
In a statement, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell added, “For several years, we’ve had the privilege of working closely with Jay-Z and Roc Nation, and I’ve seen the extraordinary impact he has had on the Super Bowl Halftime Show. When we first reached an agreement with Roc Nation to produce the show, I had just one request: that Jay-Z take the stage himself one day, whenever the moment felt right to him. I couldn’t be more excited for fans around the world to experience the artistry, creativity and cultural impact he will bring to the Super Bowl stage.”
Super Bowl LXI takes place on February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium. The previous halftime performer, Bad Bunny, brought the island of Puerto Rico and its rich history to the Super Bowl LX stage in Santa Clara, California. The performance earned seven Emmy Awards at the 78th Creative Arts Emmy Awards this past September.
