Jay-Z, the rapper who has helped produce the Super Bowl halftime show, is stepping into the spotlight and will headline the show himself.
After days of speculation, Jay-Z is set to return to the stadium where he closed his celebration of the 30th anniversary of Reasonable Doubt, the mogul’s 1996 debut album. The concerts included three sold-out shows at Yankee Stadium and sold-out performances in London and Paris ahead of a stop at SoFi Stadium over the weekend.
Jay-Z’s Roc Nation has partnered with the NFL since 2019 to advise on and help produce the league’s entertainment presentations, including the Super Bowl halftime show.The NFL, Apple Music and Roc Nation announced that Jay-Z will be the featured performer for the halftime show on Feb. 14 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. The 56-year-old rapper, who celebrated the 30th anniversary of his debut album Reasonable Doubt this year, said, “From Reasonable Doubt to standing on the Super Bowl Halftime stage, this has been a journey.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he had one request when the league first reached an agreement with Roc Nation: that Jay-Z take the stage himself “whenever the moment felt right to him.”
Super Bowl LXI will be the second Super Bowl hosted at the SoFi Stadium after Super Bowl LVI in 2022.
During Super Bowl LVI, Dr. Dre was joined by Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar for the halftime show. At the time, Dr. Dre issued a statement about the halftime show, produced by Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, saying, “The opportunity to perform at the Super Bowl Halftime Show, and to do it in my own backyard, will be one of the biggest thrills of my career.”
