Jay-Z announced as Super Bowl LXI halftime headliner at SoFi Stadium
The announcement came during ESPN's Monday Night Football broadcast. It has drawn backlash because Jay-Z's Roc Nation produces the halftime show, according to Digital Music News.
Jay-Z has been announced as the headliner of the Super Bowl LXI halftime show, which takes place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Sunday, February 14, 2027. Digital Music News reports that the news was revealed during the Dallas Cowboys-Philadelphia Eagles Monday Night Football game on ESPN.
The casting had been rumored for about a week. Fans had expected Jay-Z to make the announcement at the final date of his anniversary tour at SoFi over the weekend, but the reveal came on the broadcast instead, according to Digital Music News.
A slot produced by his own label's operation
Roc Nation has produced the Super Bowl halftime show since partnering with the NFL in 2019. Digital Music News reports that this has prompted backlash, because the announcement suggests Jay-Z effectively appointed himself to the headline slot. The outlet adds that, as he has not released new music in a while, critics online have complained about the lack of a more contemporary artist.
Since Roc Nation took over, the headliners have been Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, The Weeknd, Rihanna, Usher, Kendrick Lamar and Bad Bunny. Digital Music News says those shows brought record-breaking viewership, and argues the NFL therefore has reason to trust the company's judgment despite the criticism. That is the outlet's assessment; the report offers no figures.
The tour and possible guests
The tour that preceded the announcement marked the 30th anniversary of Reasonable Doubt and the 25th anniversary of The Blueprint. Its special guests included John Legend, DJ Khaled, Too $hort, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, along with Beyoncé and Blue Ivy Carter, per Digital Music News.
The publication suggests those appearances could hint at who joins him at the Super Bowl and expects Beyoncé to top the list. No guests have been confirmed. Beyoncé headlined the halftime show in 2013 and appeared as a special guest at Super Bowl 50 in 2016, according to the report.
Broadcast and venue
The game will air on ESPN, ABC and Disney+, and on mobile devices through NFL+. It will be the second Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium. The first, Super Bowl LVI in 2022, featured Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg as headliners.
Sources
Produced with AI assistance by the editorial team.
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