Jay-Z set for Super Bowl LXI halftime stage in February
The NFL has announced that Jay-Z will take the halftime stage himself at Super Bowl LXI in Los Angeles, after years of picking other headliners.
Jay-Z has been confirmed for the halftime show at Super Bowl LXI, the NFL announced on Monday, according to IOL, which carried an AFP report. The game takes place at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on 14 February.
It will be a first for the rapper as a performer at the event. His company, Roc Nation, has produced the halftime show every year since 2020 and has chosen the artists who headline it, but Jay-Z has never been on that stage himself.
What the NFL and Jay-Z said
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement released jointly with Roc Nation that, when the league first agreed to the production deal, he had one request. He wanted Jay-Z to perform at the show himself at some point, whenever it felt right to the artist. Goodell added that he was thrilled for audiences worldwide to see the creativity and cultural influence Jay-Z would bring.
Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, described the moment as the end of a long road. “This has been a journey,” he said, referring to the path from his debut album Reasonable Doubt to the halftime stage. He spoke of thirty years of music and culture reaching the world’s biggest stage, and called it “a dream come true”.
The announcement did not say whether he will be the only headliner.
Fresh from two Los Angeles shows
The news followed two concerts Jay-Z played last weekend at SoFi Stadium, the same venue that will host the Super Bowl. Those shows closed a year-long tour marking 30 years since Reasonable Doubt was released.
Several well-known artists joined him on stage during the Los Angeles shows:
- John Legend
- DJ Khaled
- Dr Dre
- Snoop Dogg
IOL noted this as a sign of the star power he could bring to the halftime performance, though nothing has been confirmed about who will appear in February.
What it means for South African viewers
The date to note is 14 February. The report did not give broadcast details, so South African fans will need to wait for announcements from the NFL or local broadcasters on where and at what time the game and the halftime show can be watched. The lineup of any guests has also not been confirmed.
This story is based on reporting by IOL.
