The NFL has officially announced that Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter will headline the Super Bowl LXI halftime show in February 2027. The performance, set for 14 February 2027 at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles, will mark the first time the 56-year-old rapper, entrepreneur and record executive takes the stage as the main act—despite his entertainment company, Roc Nation, having executive produced the halftime showcase since partnering with the NFL in 2019.

The booking follows two sold-out stadium concerts by Carter in Los Angeles, held as part of a tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of his 1996 debut album, Reasonable Doubt. The 24-time Grammy winner described the upcoming performance as a career milestone: “From ‘Reasonable Doubt’ to standing on the Super Bowl halftime stage, this has been a journey. Thirty years of music, work, and culture on the world’s biggest stage. This run continues to be a dream come true.”

From Brooklyn to Global Mainstream

For audiences less familiar with his catalogue, Jay-Z is one of the most commercially successful and culturally influential figures in modern music. Emerging from Brooklyn in the mid-1990s, he has built a career spanning 14 number-one albums on the Billboard 200—the most by any solo artist in history. His mainstream catalogue includes global hits such as “Empire State of Mind” (featuring Alicia Keys), “99 Problems” and “Hard Knock Life.” He has also appeared on major pop hits alongside his wife, Beyoncé, including “Crazy in Love” and “Drunk in Love,” and featured on Rihanna’s 2007 breakthrough single “Umbrella.”

Beyond music, Carter’s business empire extends into sports agency management, media streaming, luxury goods and corporate investments.

The Partnership and Halftime Legacy

The Super Bowl halftime show remains one of the most-watched live musical broadcasts globally, drawing over 100 million US television viewers alone and tens of millions more on digital platforms. Since the 2019 partnership between the NFL and Roc Nation, the company has curated halftime performances featuring Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, The Weeknd, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Rihanna, Usher, Kendrick Lamar and Bad Bunny.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell noted that persuading Carter to perform himself had been a long-standing goal: “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.”

Addressing speculation about potential guest appearances, the NFL said: “Anticipation as to who Jay-Z might have guest star at halftime for the big game will now kick off. Of course, his wife, Beyoncé, will be atop the list.”

Production and creative planning for the 14 February 2027 broadcast are slated to begin in late 2026.