One of music’s most coveted stages may be getting harder to sell. With Super Bowl LXI less than five months away, Roc Nation and the NFL are reportedly having difficulty securing a halftime headliner as political scrutiny surrounding the league and its stadium owners spills deeper into the music industry.
A reported source close to Jay-Z and the NFL told the Daily Mail that organizers are “having a hard time locking anyone down” for the February 2027 show at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The source suggested that could lead to multiple performers sharing the stage, with Jay-Z himself potentially stepping in alongside several guests if another headliner cannot be secured.
According to the insider, the reluctance is not simply about the workload attached to one of television’s biggest performances. Artists are also weighing the political fallout that can follow a Super Bowl appearance, particularly after Bad Bunny’s 2026 halftime set became a target for President Donald Trump. Reuters reported that Trump called the performance “absolutely terrible” after previously criticizing Bad Bunny’s selection.
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The Daily Mail source also pointed to the current controversy surrounding Macklemore, Ed Sheeran, and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft as another reason artists may be wary of stepping into the NFL spotlight. Macklemore was removed from the remaining U.S. dates of Sheeran’s Loop Tour after making pro-Palestinian statements during performances at MetLife Stadium. Macklemore claimed Kraft rallied other NFL stadium owners against his participation. Kraft later confirmed that he would not permit Macklemore to perform at Gillette Stadium, citing what he described as the rapper’s “recent actions” and history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery, according to Rolling Stone.
Sheeran has maintained that removing Macklemore was not his decision. As Variety reported, the singer said he participated in talks with Kraft and others to reach a resolution, but the venues and promoter ultimately made the call. Finneas, Lukas Graham, and other opening performers in the U.S. subsequently dropped out of the tour in protest.
The Announcement Could Be Pushed Into November
Since partnering with the NFL in 2019, Roc Nation has advised on talent selection for major league performances, including the Super Bowl. The NFL originally described Roc Nation’s role as helping select artists for major performances while also participating in the league’s social justice initiatives.
The halftime show also does not come with the kind of performance fee its enormous audience might suggest. The NFL covers production costs and expenses, but performers traditionally are not paid a major appearance fee. The Daily Mail source argued that the combination of no substantial paycheck and the possibility of becoming engulfed in political controversy is making the proposition less attractive to some artists being approached.
The source also said organizers had hoped to reveal the 2027 performer by the end of September, but an announcement could reportedly be pushed as far as November if an agreement is not reached. The NFL has not publicly confirmed that its search is experiencing difficulty. Meanwhile, Super Bowl LXI is scheduled for February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium.
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