Unconfirmed reports that Jay-Z could headline the Super Bowl LXI halftime show have reignited a conversation the NFL has been dodging for years: who really belongs on that stage? Jay-Z has served as the league’s live music entertainment strategist since 2019, and Roc Nation has helped select halftime performers ever since, so his name entering the rumor mill felt like a plot twist fans saw coming.
TheGrio responded by naming six Black artists it argues are overdue for the headlining slot: Cardi B, Drake, Pharrell, Doja Cat, Tyler the Creator and Ciara. Each brings something different. Cardi has the catalog and already appeared as a surprise guest during Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX show. Pharrell carries three decades of pop production. Tyler the Creator turns live shows into full theater. Drake, Doja Cat and Ciara each have loyal fan bases pushing their case.
The halftime show is one of the most-watched musical performances in the world, so the debate stretches well beyond music fans and touches anyone tracking the NFL’s partnership with Roc Nation. Past headliners include Michael Jackson, Prince, Beyoncé, Rihanna and Usher, which is the bar everyone is measuring against. So tell us: which artist on that list would you put on the halftime stage first?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.