Jay-Z picks himself to headline the Super Bowl halftime show: ‘A DREAM COME TRUE’

See more Toronto Sun on Google — save as a Preferred Source

Jay-Z confirmed that he will be the 2027 Super Bowl halftime show headliner.

The Roc Nation founder signed a deal with the NFL in 2019 that not only allowed the entertainment company to curate and produce every Super Bowl halftime performance since but also allowed the rapper to have the power to be a major deciding factor on who would be the main act.

So the billionaire granted himself a wish and chose himself.

Roc Nation made the announcement during the Monday Night Football broadcast on ESPN, during a commercial break of the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles.

“From Reasonable Doubt to standing on the Super Bowl halftime stage, this has been a journey,” Jay-Z, 56, said in a statement, per Variety. “Thirty years of music, work, and culture on the world’s biggest stage. This run continues to be a dream come true.”

‘Whenever the moment felt right’

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the timing was right for the “99 Problems” rapper to take the stage during the 2027 Super Bowl, which just happens to be at SoFi Stadium, where he just concluded his stadium tour celebrating the 20th and 30th anniversaries of his albums The Blueprint and Reasonable Doubt.

“When we first reached an agreement with Roc Nation to produce the show, I had just one request: that Jay-Z take the stage himself one day, whenever the moment felt right to him,” Goodell, 67, added.

“I couldn’t be more excited for fans around the world to experience the artistry, creativity and cultural impact he will bring to the Super Bowl stage.”

Apple Music, which is presenting the halftime show, also shared the news on its social media, writing, “GOAT’s out of the bag,” alongside a clip of the “Hard Knock Life” rapper sitting in the stands with a goat in his lap and surrounded by more of the adorable animals that are most likely AI-generated.

Following in Beyoncé’s footsteps

Jay-Z’s halftime set will come 11 years after his wife Beyonce last took the stage during the Super Bowl halftime show in 2016, when she made a special appearance alongside headlining band Coldplay.

Three years before that, the superstar headlined the show in 2013.

Unless it’s completely under wraps, Jay-Z’s show is not timed to the release of new music. His last full-length solo album 4:44, was released in 2017, though the following year he and Beyoncé released Everything Is Love.

Other rumoured headliners

Until Jay-Z’s reveal, Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus were among the top possible contenders to take on the halftime show.

Bad Bunny headlined the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show with a fun and wild set that saw special guest performances from Ricky Martin and Lady Gaga, as well as cameos by Cardi B, Karol G, Jessica Alba and Pedro Pascal.

The Puerto Rican superstar joked at a February press conference that viewers wouldn’t “even have to learn Spanish” to enjoy his performance.

“It’s better they learn to dance,” he suggested. “There’s no better dance than the one that comes from the heart. That’s the only thing that they need to worry about.”

The 2027 Super Bowl takes place Feb. 14 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., for the second time.

Super Bowl LVI was played at the venue in 2022, which saw the L.A. Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23.20.

The headliners were Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar, with a special appearance by 50 Cent and a guest appearance by Anderson .Paak.

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

1. 

   Columnists
2. 

   World
3. 

   Canada
4. 

   Toronto Blue Jays
5. 

   CFL