Jay-Z Reportedly Picks Himself to Headline Super Bowl LXI
The Facts
- Jay-Z has selected himself to headline the Super Bowl LXI halftime show at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, according to a report published Tuesday by Puck. The NFL did not respond to a request for comment.
- Super Bowl LXI is set for Feb. 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium. Sources told Puck that picking Jay-Z was "more compelling" than Miley Cyrus or Justin Bieber, who were considered finalists, while TMZ reported that Harry Styles was also on the wish list.
- Roc Nation, the entertainment company founded by Jay-Z, has produced the Super Bowl halftime show since 2019 under a reported $5 million-a-year agreement with the NFL. The partnership was renewed in 2024 for another five years.
Sources Split
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The Spin
Narrative A
Booking an artist with three decades of hits everyone already knows is the safest, smartest call the league could make. The complaints about halftime shows chasing only young, contemporary audiences get answered by a legend whose catalog bridges generations and whose guest list could stack the stage with icons. Recent chart position has never been what makes a halftime show land.
Narrative B
A promoter handing the biggest gig in music to the promoter is a conflict of interest that would get laughed out of any other business. The halftime stage has been a revolving door of pop acts for over a decade, and the fix isn't another victory lap for the guy signing the checks. Rock bands with stadium-sized catalogs exist, and giving them a turn would serve fans far better than this act of self-dealing.
Metaculus Prediction
Public Figures
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