It’s official, and it’s huge: the man who’s spent seven years helping produce the Super Bowl halftime show is finally stepping front and center himself. Jay-Z will headline the Super Bowl LXI halftime show on Feb. 14 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, the NFL, Apple Music, and Roc Nation announced Monday night. This is the moment Roc Nation’s entire partnership with the league was building toward — and the timing couldn’t be more fitting.

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Who announced Jay-Z’s Super Bowl LXI halftime performance?

The NFL, Apple Music, and Roc Nation made the joint announcement Monday night, confirming Jay-Z as the featured performer for the Feb. 14 halftime show at SoFi Stadium. Commissioner Roger Goodell revealed he had just one request when the league first struck its deal with Roc Nation back in 2019: that Jay-Z take the stage himself “whenever the moment felt right to him.” That moment has officially arrived.

Jay-Z reflected on the full-circle nature of the announcement in his official statement:

“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.”

That’s real talk from a man who’s spent three decades building a legacy — and now he’s bringing all of it to the biggest stage in sports.

Why is SoFi Stadium significant for Jay-Z?

SoFi Stadium isn’t new territory for Jay-Z. He just wrapped his celebration of the 30th anniversary of “Reasonable Doubt,” his 1996 debut album, with a stop at the very same venue this past weekend. The anniversary run was massive, featuring three sold-out shows at Yankee Stadium and sold-out performances in London and Paris. So when Jay-Z returns to that SoFi stage in February, he’ll be stepping right back into the spotlight he just left — only this time, in front of a global Super Bowl audience.

How long has Jay-Z’s Roc Nation worked with the NFL?

Roc Nation has partnered with the NFL since 2019, advising on and helping produce the league’s entertainment presentations, including the Super Bowl halftime show itself. When the partnership first began, Jay-Z made it clear performing wasn’t the plan, telling Goodell: “If this is about me performing at the Super Bowl, then we can just end this conversation now.” Seven years later, the culture — and Jay-Z’s own readiness — has clearly shifted.

Jay-Z, born Shawn Carter, stands as one of the most decorated artists in music history. His résumé speaks for itself:

• 25 Grammy Awards and 89 nominations — the second-most nominations in history, trailing only his wife, Beyoncé, who has performed at two Super Bowls.
• Landmark albums including The Blueprint and The Black Album.
• Hit records like “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem),” “99 Problems,” and “Empire State of Mind” with Alicia Keys.
• Induction of Reasonable Doubt into the Grammy Hall of Fame last year.
• First rapper ever inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame (2017).
• Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee (2021).
• Four-time Emmy winner.

Beyond the mic, Jay-Z co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records and launched Roc Nation in 2008, building it into an entertainment powerhouse that works with artists and athletes across the globe.

Who joined Jay-Z on stage during his “Reasonable Doubt” anniversary run?

Jay-Z’s recent shows brought out a stacked, rotating cast of guests — and if that’s any indication, Super Bowl LXI could deliver one legendary guest list:

• At SoFi Stadium, his daughter Blue Ivy played piano on “The Story of O.J.” and “Dead Presidents.”
• Scarface, John Legend, and DJ Khaled joined him on opening night.
• Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Too $hort appeared during Saturday’s finale.
• Earlier in the run at Yankee Stadium, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Eminem, and Nas all made appearances.

Roc Nation will executive produce the halftime show, with Hamish Hamilton directing.

How does Jay-Z’s halftime show compare to past performances?

Bad Bunny performed at last season’s Super Bowl in February, pulling in an average of 128.2 million viewers between 8:15 and 8:30 p.m. ET — the fourth-most-watched halftime show in history, trailing only:

1. Kendrick Lamar (133.5 million, 2025)
2. Michael Jackson (133.4 million, 1993)
3. Usher (129.3 million, 2024)

Bad Bunny’s performance also drove sharp gains across streaming charts, playlists, and music discovery platforms in the hours after the show. The halftime show has become a serious Emmy contender in recent years, too — Bad Bunny’s set won a record seven Emmys, including best variety special (live), while Kendrick Lamar’s performance took home the win for music direction. With three decades of culture-defining music behind him, expect the comparisons to these record-breaking shows to heat up fast as Feb. 14 approaches.

Super Bowl LXI will broadcast on ESPN and ABC, with streaming available on Disney+.