John Legend and Jay-Z have a close relationship, with Legend even claiming he’s “part of the family”. That’s the Roc Nation family, Jay-Z’s entertainment company that he founded in 2008. In April 2026, John Legend officially signed with Roc Nation, departing from his longtime manager.

Over the years, Legend and Jay-Z have frequently collaborated. Legend contributed uncredited piano work and vocals to Jay-Z’s work before launching his own solo career. In 2006, Legend was featured on Jay-Z’s track “Do U Wanna Ride” from his Kingdom Come album. Also, DJ Khaled included both Jay-Z and John Legend on his track “God Did”, released in 2022.

Aside from these collaborations, John Legend has joined Jay-Z on stage. The most recent on-stage collaboration occurred on October 23, 2026, at Jay-Z’s 30th anniversary residency at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. In a recent announcement, Jay-Z will be performing at the Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show on February 14, 2027. Despite appearing on stage together recently, John Legend has indicated that he doesn’t expect to appear on stage at the Super Bowl.

Will John Legend Join Jay-Z On Stage at the Super Bowl?

In an interview with The Jasmine Brand, posted on October 28, 2026, John Legend explained that he’s yet to receive a phone call for the performance, but doesn’t expect one. “I’m managed by Roc Nation, full disclosure. So, you know, I’m part of the family, and obviously just got a chance to play at SoFi with him. We sang ‘God Did’, me, him, and DJ Khaled. That was incredible, playing that at SoFi. We closed the show with it, and it was an epic moment.”

John Legend went on to praise Jay-Z, stating, “It’s always special when I get to rock with Jay-Z. He really is the GOAT, as far as I’m concerned. I’ve been part of multiple albums of his, multiple songs of his; I’m just honored I get to rock with him.” Then, Jasmine Brand quickly adds, “That’s right, see you at the Super Bowl,” as John Legend laughs off the statement.

As Brand is seemingly wrapping up the interview, Legend interrupts to say, “I will say, I want people to stop focusing on who he’s going to bring out. His catalog and his artistry as a solo artist is plenty for, like, an eleven-minute show. I wouldn’t be mad if he said, ‘I’m bringin’ no guest out.’ That’s how I feel about it.”

Brand quickly agrees, saying, “I wouldn’t be mad either. But if we get Jay-Z and friends, we’re not mad. If that piano drops out of the sky with John Legend on one, Alicia Keys on the other. woo!” The two laugh as Legend adds, “I’m not mad at that either.”

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The NFL has seemingly confirmed that it did, in fact, choose Jay-Z as the Halftime Show performer for Super Bowl LXI. The big game will be taking place on February 14, 2027.

Now, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has issued comments on the selection. “So many things go into that as we go into the process, and Jay does his thing,” Goodell said. “We’ve always wanted this to happen at some point. It was something I asked him about at the time when we first started this, and he said, Yeah, we’ll see, let’s see what happens’-but it was clear he wanted it to happen.

“We’ve talked about it a couple of times,” he added. “I think the fact that he’s in his 30th anniversary year of his first album, he just finished his tour, it’s L.A., he’s at that point as the GOAT that he’s ready for it. He was pretty clear: ‘I wanna do it this year.’ I guess I was more excited than anything, maybe a little surprised, because he keeps putting it off a little bit. But I think he’s already got his vision; he already understands what he wants to do.”

Jay-Z has been a producer of the Super Bowl Halftime Show since 2019

“He’s been so remarkable in helping us elevate the whole Super Bowl halftime show,” Goodell continued. “He’s a genius, and not just a creative genius in a musical sense. His business sense, his sense of timing, his sense of what’s necessary in the world-he’s just got that. I trust him, and I trust his point of view.”

Jay-Z and his Roc Nation company have been producing the Super Bowl Halftime Show since 2019. This makes Goodell’s statement about Jay-Z “putting it off a little bit” very interesting. We can surmise that he wanted to headline the show years ago, but for one reason or another, he chose not to.

In a previous statement, Goodell made it clear that he has always wanted Jay to perform. “When we first reached an agreement with Roc Nation to produce the show, I had just one request,” he said. “That Jay-Z take the stage himself one day, whenever the moment felt right to him.” Well, that moment has arrived.

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