Taylor Swift is one of the most in-demand and popular musical artists in the world. The pop icon has recently completed a record-breaking tour and remains incredibly successful, with the release of her latest album attracting accolades.
That might make her seem like an obvious choice for Super Bowl LXI as someone who has broad appeal among NFL fans. The fact that next year’s Super Bowl will take place on Valentine’s day also seems like a great opportunity to have Swift appear. But that looks unlikely if recent reports are to be believed, with indications that Jay-Z has rejected the singer-songwriter.
Why Jay-Z Doesn’t Want Taylor Swift for the Super Bowl Halftime Show
GettyThe report comes from Geo News, which claims that Jay-Z believes that Swift is too “safe” and wouldn’t “push conversations forward.” The rapper and producer heads Roc Nation, the company responsible for running the Super Bowl Halftime Show and selecting the acts that perform.
This is a long-term partnership that has been in place since 2019, with Jay-Z producing every performance since then.
Tega Egwabor, a culture analyst for online outlet Rolling Out also suggests that Jay-Z would not support the idea of Swift taking part in the next Super Bowl.
“The cultural megaphone Jay-Z has built through the halftime show requires artists who push conversations forward, not performers who simply confirm what audiences already know they love,” Egwabor said.
None of this means that Swift has even put herself forward as a possibility. In fact, the pop star has previously said that she does not want to perform at a Super Bowl Halftime Show while her fiancé Travis Kelce is still playing (via Yahoo).
It is currently unclear whether Kelce, who is set to marry Swift later this year, will retire before the next NFL season gets underway.
Fans Want Taylor Swift at the Next Super Bowl
GettyAlthough Jay-Z may not be convinced that Swift is the right choice for the next Super Bowl Halftime Show, fans seemingly have a different view. A poll commissioned by Vegas Insider names Swift as the standout favorite among fans.
She attracted 7.6% of the total votes from NFL fans about who would be their preferred choice to headline the gig. She was particularly popular with older participants, although she found wide support across all age groups.
British performers were all put forward by NFL fans. According to the poll, men would prefer to see Elton John, while female fans named Adele as their preferred choice.
