Speculation is heating up over the headliner for the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show, with Taylor Swift emerging as a frontrunner while fellow chart-topper Cardi B has chosen to step aside.
During an appearance on NBC's Today Show on Wednesday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed growing rumours about Swift's possible performance. Asked directly by co-host Savannah Guthrie, Goodell praised the pop superstar while leaving the door open.
"We would always love to have Taylor play," he said. "She is a special, special talent. She would be welcome at any time."
Goodell hinted that discussions may already be underway, noting: "It's a maybe. It's a maybe... I'm waiting on my friend Jay-Z to be able to help me with that one. It's in his hands," a nod to Roc Nation's role in producing the halftime spectacle.
Swift's connection to the NFL has only deepened amid her relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, which has generated immense crossover attention.
Professionally, the timing could align with her upcoming album The Life of a Showgirl, due out October 3. The record follows her Eras Tour, a historic run of 149 shows across five continents that grossed more than $2 billion.
If selected, Swift would join the ranks of recent halftime stars such as Kendrick Lamar, Usher, and Rihanna. The NFL typically announces its headliners in early September, as Lamar's booking was revealed on September 8, 2024 — suggesting an official decision could be imminent.
While Swift's name dominates speculation, Cardi B has confirmed that she turned down an offer to perform. In a recent interview with Billboard, the Grammy-winning rapper said she wants to wait until she feels more musically and personally prepared for such a high-profile stage.
"If I get to do it, I'm going to have more hits and I'm going to eat that up," she explained, stressing her commitment to delivering a show-stopping performance when the timing is right.
This marks the second time Cardi B has declined the Super Bowl spotlight. In 2019, she rejected an invitation to perform at Super Bowl LIII in solidarity with former quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who protested racial injustice by kneeling during the national anthem.
For now, fans are left to watch the contrasting paths of two of music's biggest starsone possibly stepping onto the NFL's biggest stage in 2026, and the other deliberately biding her time.
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