Roc Nation Shift: Jay-Z to Perform at Super Bowl LXI

Jay-Z will headline the halftime show for Super Bowl LXI. The NFL, Apple Music, and Roc Nation announced the decision on Monday evening. The performance is scheduled for February 14 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Roc Nation began working with the NFL in 2019. The company advises on and helps produce the league's entertainment presentations. Jay-Z, who founded the firm in 2008, initially told Commissioner Roger Goodell he would not perform. He said at the time, "If this is about me performing at the Super Bowl, then we can just end this conversation now."

Goodell said he made one request when the league first agreed to work with Roc Nation. He asked Jay-Z to take the stage "whenever the moment felt right to him." Seven years later, the rapper is ready to step into the spotlight himself.

Jay-Z recently finished a tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of his 1996 debut album, "Reasonable Doubt." The run included three sold-out shows at Yankee Stadium. He also performed in London and Paris before stopping at SoFi Stadium last weekend. His daughter Blue Ivy played piano on two tracks during that final show.

Other guests joined him on stage during the anniversary tour. Scarface, John Legend, and DJ Khaled appeared on opening night. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Too $hort performed during the Saturday finale. Beyoncé, Rihanna, Eminem, and Nas were among the guests at the New York shows.

Jay-Z has won 25 Grammy Awards and received 89 nominations. He is the second-most nominated artist in history behind his wife, Beyoncé. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2017 and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021. He has also won four Emmy Awards.

Roc Nation will executive produce the upcoming halftime show. Hamish Hamilton will direct the event. Super Bowl LXI will air on ESPN and ABC and stream on Disney+. Last year's halftime show, headlined by Bad Bunny, drew 128.2 million viewers between 8:15 and 8:30 p.m. ET.