Jay-Z is set to take the stage at the Apple Music Super Bowl LXI halftime show, leaving fans wondering whether his wife Beyoncé Knowles-Carter will join him for a surprise performance.
The rap titan was officially announced on Monday, Oct. 26, as the 2027 halftime performer at the start of halftime during Monday Night Football's matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys. The upcoming Super Bowlwill take place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Feb. 14, 2027.
Leading up to the announcement, fans were speculating that Jay-Z could be a strong contender for the halftime show given his banner year and his massive "Jay-Z 30" concert series, which wrapped on Oct. 24 in Los Angeles.
This will mark the first time the rap titan
will take over the Super Bowl stage, after he famously turned down the Super Bowl halftime in 2017, later revealing it was based on "principle." However, he's had a hand in the halftime show for years. In 2019, Jay-Z's company, Roc Nation, was named the NFL's live music entertainment strategist as a part of the NFL’s Inspire Change Initiative.
In addition to the excitement surrounding Jay-Z's performance, fans are speculating that Beyoncé may join her husband onstage for a surprise appearance. Although she has yet to confirm whether she will be part of the show, several factors have fueled the rumors, including their history of performing together and her previous appearances at the Super Bowl.
Beyoncé recently joined-Jay-Z onstage during his 'Jay-Z 30' concert series
Jay-Z closed out his30th anniversary concert series with two shows at SoFi Stadium on Oct. 23 and Oct. 24. His string of shows has spanned New York, London, Paris and Los Angeles. Each night, fans have wondered which special guest the rap mogul might bring onstage after he surprised audiences with a star-studded lineup at multiple shows. The Super Bowl could be no different.
Beyoncé has been a frequent surprise guest at the shows, making surprise appearances during his hometown concerts on July 10 and July 12. Additionally, Beyoncé has been spotted in the audience at multiple shows, including an appearance alongside her Destiny's Child bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams.
The Grammy-winning couple has a long history of performing together, including their co-headlined On the Run Tour in 2014 and On the Run II in 2018. Jay-Z also took the stage several times with Beyoncé during her Cowboy Carter and Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit Tour, which wrapped in July 2025 in Las Vegas.
Super Bowl 61 is scheduled for Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, 2027, making a joint appearance an especially fitting moment for the couple.
Beyoncé previously performed at the Super Bowl in 2013, 2016
Beyoncé, has performed at the Super Bowl twice. She first hit the halftime stage on Feb 3. 2013, bringing out fellow Destiny's Child members Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
Beyoncé kicked off the 12-minute performance with an a cappella version of her hit "Love on Top." The show racked up 110.8 million viewers, becoming the second-most-watched Super Bowl in history at that time.
She also graced the Super Bowl stage on Feb. 7, 2016, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., joining Bruno Mars and Coldplay, who headlined the halftime show. Her performance of her hit "Formation" became a notable moment as some politicians and fans described the performance as a statement of Black pride.
While neither has, or likely will, confirm the rumors about Beyoncé leading up to the big game, it is only a matter of time before fans find out.
The Apple Music Super Bowl 61 halftime show will air on ESPN, ABC and Disney+ with mobile streaming available through NFL+.
Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network's Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Jay-Z to headline Super Bowl LXI halftime show: Will Beyoncé join?
