Jay-Z to headline Super Bowl halftime
The rapper will perform at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on February 14, ending years of speculation about his role.
By Chioma Rogers ·
Jay-Z will headline the Super Bowl halftime show on February 14 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The NFL, Apple Music, and Roc Nation made the announcement Monday night.
The featured performer is stepping into a role he previously declined. In 2019, Roc Nation began advising the NFL on halftime presentations. Jay-Z told Commissioner Roger Goodell at the time that if the partnership was about him performing, they could end the conversation. Goodell said he had one request: that Jay-Z take the stage whenever the moment felt right.
This announcement follows a recent concert run celebrating the 30th anniversary of his 1996 debut album, Reasonable Doubt. That tour included sold-out shows at Yankee Stadium, London, and Paris. The final stop was SoFi Stadium, where Jay-Z performed over the weekend. He is returning to the venue where that anniversary tour concluded.
In a statement, Jay-Z described the move as a dream come true. He noted that his career spans thirty years of music, work, and culture. He referenced his journey from the Reasonable Doubt era to standing on the Super Bowl stage.
Born Shawn Carter, the artist has won 25 Grammy Awards from 89 nominations. This total is the second-highest in history, behind his wife, Beyoncé. Beyoncé has performed at two Super Bowls. Jay-Z’s catalog includes The Blueprint, The Black Album, and the hit single Empire State of Mind. Last year, Reasonable Doubt was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
His recent concerts featured a rotating cast of guests. 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, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Eminem, and Nas performed at Yankee Stadium.
Roc Nation will executive produce the halftime show, with Hamish Hamilton directing. The event has seen recent critical success. Bad Bunny’s February performance won a record seven Emmys, including best variety special live. Kendrick Lamar’s show last year won for music direction. Jay-Z is also a four-time Emmy winner, the first rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Source: KNKX Public Radio
