Rapper and entrepreneur Jay-Z will headline the Super Bowl LXI halftime show on February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, the NFL announced Monday. This marks the first time Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, will perform at the event after his entertainment company, Roc Nation, has been producing the halftime show since 2020.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league initially agreed with Roc Nation under the condition that Jay-Z would take the stage himself “whenever the moment felt right.” Goodell expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming performance, highlighting Jay-Z’s impact on music and culture.

Jay-Z’s announcement came shortly after he completed a series of concerts at SoFi Stadium and other venues, which celebrated the 30th anniversary of his debut album, *Reasonable Doubt*. The Los Angeles shows featured appearances by artists including John Legend, DJ Khaled, Dr. Dre, and Snoop Dogg. These performances culminated a year-long tour that also included sold-out concerts at Yankee Stadium and international stops in London and Paris.

The artist, who has earned 25 Grammy Awards and 89 nominations, is notable for major albums such as *The Blueprint* and *The Black Album*, as well as hit singles like “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem),” “99 Problems,” and “Empire State of Mind,” a collaboration with Alicia Keys. He is also the first rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and entered the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021.

Jay-Z’s involvement with the NFL and the Super Bowl halftime show dates back to 2019, when Roc Nation first partnered with the league to advise on and help produce the entertainment. Initially, Jay-Z was hesitant about performing himself but has since embraced the opportunity.

While the NFL has confirmed Jay-Z as the featured halftime performer, it has not specified whether other artists will join the show. Jay-Z’s wife, Beyoncé, a two-time Super Bowl performer and the most nominated artist in Grammy history, has been a fixture in previous halftime shows, underscoring the event’s strong ties to high-profile musical acts.

Jay-Z described the upcoming performance as a continuation of his three-decade career, calling it “a dream come true” to perform on one of the world’s biggest stages. With his extensive career as a musician and executive, Jay-Z’s Super Bowl debut is highly anticipated by fans and industry observers alike.