Jay-Z to head SoFi halftime show

Jay-Z will headline the Super Bowl halftime show on Feb. 14 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

The NFL, Apple Music, and Roc Nation made the announcement Monday night. The performance marks a return to the stadium where Jay-Z concluded a recent tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of his debut album, Reasonable Doubt. That tour included three sold-out nights at Yankee Stadium and sold-out shows in London and Paris before the final stop in Inglewood over the weekend.

Jay-Z, born Shawn Carter, has won 25 Grammy Awards from 89 nominations. His discography includes the albums The Blueprint and The Black Album. He also recorded hit songs such as 99 Problems and Empire State Mind, the latter a collaboration with Alicia Keys. Reasonable Doubt entered the Grammy Hall of Fame last year. The artist is a four-time Emmy winner and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2017.

Roc Nation has worked with the NFL since 2019 to advise on and produce league entertainment events. Jay-Z said he told NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell during those early talks that if the deal meant he would perform, the conversation should end. Goodell said he asked Jay-Z to take the stage whenever the moment felt right. Jay-Z stated that this opportunity represents thirty years of work on a major stage. He called the run a dream come true.

The recent tour featured a rotating cast of guests. At SoFi Stadium, his daughter Blue Ivy played piano on The Story of O.J. and Dead Presidents. Scarface, John Legend, and DJ Khaled joined him on opening night. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Too $hort appeared during Saturday's finale. Earlier in the tour, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Eminem, and Nas performed at Yankee Stadium.

Jay-Z co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records and founded Roc Nation in 2008. The company now works with various artists and athletes. Roc Nation will executive produce the upcoming halftime show, with Hamish Hamilton serving as director. Recent halftime shows have won Emmys, including Bad Bunny's performance which took home a record seven awards.

Beyoncé, Jay-Z's wife, has performed at two Super Bowls. She holds the record for the most Grammy nominations in history.