Jay-Z picks himself as Super Bowl halftime performer

After days of speculation, Jay-Z is set to return to the stadium where he closed his “Jay-Z 30” concerts over the weekend. The run began with three shows at Yankee Stadium in New York, continued in London and ended in Southern California.

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. At the time, Jay-Z said he had told NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, “If this is about me performing at the Super Bowl, then we can just end this conversation now.”

Seven years later, Jay-Z is ready to perform after all.

Jay-Z, born Shawn Carter, has won 25 Grammy Awards and received 89 nominations, the second-most in history behind his wife, Beyoncé — who has performed at two Super Bowls. 

Jay-Z became the first rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2017 and joined the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021.

Bad Bunny performed at last season’s Super Bowl in February. His songs had sharp gains across streaming charts, playlists and music discovery platforms in the hours following the show.


(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)