Jay-Z is confirmed as next year’s Super Bowl Halftime headliner

One week ago, we heard the rumor that Jay-Z had chosen himself as next year’s Super Bowl Halftime headliner. Now it’s been confirmed, Jay-Z is really doing it. Jay-Z and Roc Nation have been “the deciders” for the Halftime show for the past seven years, and there’s been a conversation about when or if Jay-Z would choose himself. I actually think it’s cool that he waited until he was ready for this, and if you look back on what he’s been doing in the past year, it feels like he was building towards this moment.

The wait is over, football and music lovers! The halftime show performer for Super Bowl LXI is finally here. On Monday, Oct. 23, Jay-Z — who is the NFL’s “live music entertainment strategist” — was announced as the performer for the highly anticipated halftime show.

Roc Nation and Apple Music announced the news during ESPN’s Monday Night Football broadcast, featuring the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. An announcement was also published on Roc Nation’s Instagram page. “GOAT’s out of the bag,” the caption read, alongside a clip of Jay-Z sitting in a football stadium.

“From Reasonable Doubt to standing on the Super Bowl halftime stage, this has been a journey,” Jay-Z said in a statement. “Thirty years of music, work, and culture on the world’s biggest stage. This run continues to be a dream come true.”

It will be cool, and I feel certain that he’s going to bring in some great guest stars too. People obviously want Beyonce to come in, and I hope that happens. But it just occurred to me that Jay probably wants Pharrell Williams to appear too, given Pharrell/The Neptunes did so much production work for Jay, especially in the early 2000s. Like… I’m legitimately excited about what Jay-Z will do and who he’ll bring in.

GOAT’s out of the bag. @sc #AppleMusicHalftime #SBLXI https://t.co/6wnIqTKjZB

Photos courtesy of Cover Images, Backgrid and Apple Music’s Instagram. New York, NY, Jay-Z, Tina Knowles, and Tyler Perry were seen leaving the ‘Mea Culpa’ premiere at the Paris Theater in New York. Pictured: Jay-Z BACKGRID USA 15 FEBRUARY 2024 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients, Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication* Los Angeles, CA, Los Angeles premiere of Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” at Dolby Theatre. Pictured: Jay-Z, Beyoncé BACKGRID USA 9 DECEMBER 2024 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients, Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication* Paris, FRANCE Beyoncé and Jay-Z were seen making a stylish exit from the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris, turning heads with their coordinated looks as they wrapped up their visit to the iconic cultural venue. Pictured: Jay-Z BACKGRID USA 24 JUNE 2025 BYLINE MUST READ: Aissaoui Nacer / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients, Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication* New York, NY Celebrities at the 2026 Met Gala, celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Pictured: Jay-Z, Beyoncé Knowles, Blue Ivy Carter BACKGRID USA 4 MAY 2026 BYLINE MUST READ: BFA.com / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients, Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication* Celebrities attend Fanatics Fest 2024 in New York City Featuring: Jay-Z Where: New York, New York, United States When: 18 Aug 2024 Credit: Janet Mayer/INSTARimages.com Celebrities attend Fanatics Fest 2024 in New York City Featuring: Jay-Z Where: New York, New York, United States When: 18 Aug 2024 Credit: Janet Mayer/INSTARimages.com