A producer's choice, reported but unconfirmed
Jay-Z has reportedly decided that he will perform at the Super Bowl LXI halftime show, according to a Puck report by Dave Brooks. The report says Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus were also under consideration for the slot. Neither the NFL nor Jay-Z has confirmed the selection, and the league has not yet named a performer for the game in Los Angeles.[S1][S2][S3][S4][S5][S6][S7][S8]
The report places the decision with Jay-Z himself, who has produced the annual halftime spectacle since the NFL first brought him in for the role in 2019. The league renewed that arrangement in 2024, and the deal has been reported to pay $5 million each year. That dual position, as both the person running the show and the reported headliner, is the unusual element in the story.[S1]
Understand this article deeper
Timing and the Los Angeles setting
In each of the two previous Super Bowls, the NFL revealed its halftime act in September. With October nearly over, the league has still said nothing about who will perform at Super Bowl LXI in Los Angeles. That silence has left room for reporting on the selection before any official word.[S1]
Brooks suggests an announcement could come this weekend, when Jay-Z is scheduled to play two shows at SoFi Stadium, the venue for the next Super Bowl. He also notes that any reveal would likely be staged as a major moment alongside ESPN and ABC, the network televising the game.[S1]
