Jay-Z Has Reportedly Selected Himself to Headline Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show

 After weeks of deliberation, Jay-Z, the Roc Nation head who has overseen Super Bowl halftime curation and production since the 2019 NFL partnership, reportedly chose his own name over other contenders, including Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber. Neither the NFL nor Roc Nation has officially confirmed the booking, and representatives did not respond to a request for comment. An announcement could come as soon as this weekend during his nearly sold-out shows at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, the same venue that will host Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027.

This would mark the first time the 56-year-old Brooklyn rapper has headlined the show himself. He previously described choosing himself as potentially “selfish” too early in his NFL role, telling Entertainment Tonight in early 2024 that it might happen “maybe one year.” The timing aligns with his ongoing JAŸ-Z 30 stadium tour, which celebrates the 30th anniversary of Reasonable Doubt and the 25th of The Blueprint, and has included record-breaking runs at Yankee Stadium and appearances in London and Paris featuring high-profile guests.

Speculation on Guests

A Jay-Z-led set is widely expected to lean on his deep network of collaborators rather than a solo performance. Puck noted that “a Jay-fronted show would surely lean on his Rolodex, if not his marriage, to deliver those kinds of cameos,” referencing the type of TV moments seen when he reunited the Fugees at recent London dates.

Beyoncé stands out as the most frequently speculated guest. She headlined the 2013 Super Bowl halftime show and appeared as a guest during Coldplay’s 2016 set. She has joined Jay-Z on stage multiple times during the current tour, including on “Can’t Knock the Hustle” and “Drunk in Love” at Yankee Stadium. Their joint performances of tracks like “’03 Bonnie & Clyde,” “Crazy in Love,” or “Drunk in Love” would deliver a built-in crowd moment on the biggest stage in entertainment. Other realistic possibilities drawn from recent tour appearances include Rihanna (a prior Roc Nation-selected Super Bowl headliner who has performed “Run This Town” and “Bitch Better Have My Money” with him), Nas, Pharrell, Justin Timberlake, or members of the Roc-A-Fella extended family such as Memphis Bleek.

Past Super Bowl productions under Jay-Z’s oversight (Rihanna, Usher, Kendrick Lamar, Bad Bunny) have favored strong guest spots and medleys over single-artist purity, so a multi-artist approach feels likely.

Song Selection

A Super Bowl set typically runs roughly 12–13 minutes and prioritizes instantly recognizable hits over deep cuts. Drawing from Jay-Z’s stadium setlists on the current tour and his most-played live tracks, a plausible sequence could include:

• “Empire State of Mind” (with Alicia Keys or a Beyoncé cameo on the chorus) as a high-energy closer or mid-set peak.
• “99 Problems” and “Public Service Announcement (PSA)” for the raw, anthemic energy that translates in a stadium.
• “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” and “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)” as crowd-singalong staples from the Vol. 2 and Blueprint eras being celebrated on tour.
• “Big Pimpin’” and “Dirt Off Your Shoulder” for classic bounce.
• Tour-tested openers or mid-set tracks such as “U Don’t Know,” “On to the Next One,” or “Run This Town.”

Until the NFL or Roc Nation issues an official statement, the booking remains reported rather than confirmed. If the reports hold, it would represent a full-circle moment for the artist who has shaped the modern Super Bowl halftime landscape from behind the scenes for the better part of a decade. Fans will be watching his SoFi Stadium dates this weekend for any onstage confirmation.