The NFL has just confirmed its halftime show for the upcoming Super Bowl

It's official: Jay-Z will headline the halftime show at the upcoming Super Bowl. The NFL confirmed Monday that the New York rapper will perform at the championship game, which will be held on February 14 in Los Angeles.

This will be a first for the 56-year-old artist, who has never before taken the stage at the famous halftime show, one of the most-watched performances on the planet.

The announcement comes as no complete surprise. Ever since his company, Roc Nation, took over production of the show, many have been wondering not whether Jay-Z would participate, but rather when.

Commissioner Roger Goodell has confirmed this. When the initial agreement with Roc Nation was signed, he had made only one request: that one day, at the right time, Jay-Z himself take the stage. That moment has finally arrived.

The NFL has not, however, specified whether the singer of “Empire State of Mind” will be the sole performer or if he will be joined by other artists.

A Matter of Principle

This isn't the first time Jay-Z's name has been mentioned in connection with the Super Bowl. In 2020, he revealed to The New York Times that he had already been approached to perform alongside Rihanna and Kanye West. He turned down the offer at the time.

In his view, an artist shouldn't be forced to perform on the condition that they bring a specific person with them. He turned down the offer on principle.

This time, the performance will cap off a special year. The rapper, whose real name is Shawn Carter, is marking his 30-year career with a world tour. Though he became the first billionaire rapper according to Forbes, he had kept a lower profile on stage in recent years to focus on his business ventures.

He will follow Bad Bunny, who turned last year's show into a grand celebration of Puerto Rico and Latin American culture.

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