1: Jay-Z headlines Super Bowl LXI halftime show

Jay-Z will perform at the Super Bowl halftime show in February, the National Football League announced on Monday. The rapper had not previously taken the stage at the NFL championship game, though his company Roc Nation has produced the event since 2019.

Roc Nation selects the headliner each year, giving Jay-Z significant influence over the roster. The league did not clarify if he will perform alone or with guests. An NFL statement said anticipation for guest stars would now begin, noting that his wife Beyonce would likely be at the top of the list.

Super Bowl LXI is scheduled for February 14, 2027, near Los Angeles. The announcement followed two shows Jay-Z played last weekend at the Los Angeles venue. Those concerts were part of a tour marking the 30th anniversary of his debut album Reasonable Doubt.

Shawn Carter, known professionally as Jay-Z, said the move from releasing Reasonable Doubt to the Super Bowl stage has been a long journey. He described the past three decades of work and culture as a dream come true on the world's biggest stage.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell expressed excitement for fans to see the artist's cultural impact. Goodell recalled asking for Jay-Z to perform himself when he first reached an agreement with Roc Nation to produce the show. He said he wanted Jay-Z to take the stage whenever the moment felt right.

The league confirmed the performance date and location in its official statement. The halftime show remains the most watched segment of the Super broadcast each year.