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The NFL, Apple Music and Roc Nation announced on October 26 that Jay-Z will headline the Super Bowl LXI halftime show at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, where the performer had just wrapped multiple sold-out dates on his JAY-Z30 tour. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in the statement that he had one request when Roc Nation first partnered with the league to produce the halftime show. Jay-Z responded that the booking represented a journey from his debut album Reasonable Doubt three decades ago to music’s largest stage, according to the joint announcement.
Roc Nation has served as the NFL’s live music entertainment strategist since 2019, helping curate halftime performances that have featured a range of global artists in recent years. Jay-Z performed at SoFi Stadium on October 23-24 with guests including Beyoncé, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg as part of concerts marking the anniversaries of Reasonable Doubt and The Blueprint, NFL.com reported. The timing of those shows has fueled speculation about possible collaborators for the February event.
A 25-time Grammy Award winner and the first hip-hop artist inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Jay-Z also entered the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021, according to ESPN records. His wife Beyoncé headlined Super Bowl XLVII and appeared as a guest in Super Bowl 50, creating a direct family link to the event’s history. The NFL statement highlighted the cultural reach Jay-Z has built across 30 years in music, business and entertainment.
Recent halftime shows have drawn massive audiences, with AP News figures showing Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 performance attracting a record 133.5 million viewers while Bad Bunny’s 2026 set reached 128.2 million. Nielsen data cited by the outlet placed the overall Super Bowl LX audience at 124.9 million, ranking it among the most-watched broadcasts in U.S. history. Those numbers underscore the platform’s scale as Jay-Z prepares to step from producer to headliner.
The 2027 game will air on ESPN, ABC and Disney+ while streaming on those services and NFL+, according to the NFL announcement. SoFi Stadium previously hosted Super Bowl LVI in 2022, which featured Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar and others in a Los Angeles-themed production. A separate Spanish-language broadcast will air on Univision and ESPN Deportes.
ESPN noted that anticipation for guest appearances has intensified given Jay-Z’s recent collaborations with artists who have prior Super Bowl experience. The league’s partnership with Roc Nation and Apple Music has emphasized diverse lineups that blend established stars with cultural moments. Hamish Hamilton will direct the show, which Roc Nation will executive produce, per the announcement.
