Jelly Roll Advocates for Nashville Super Bowl Halftime Show

CHAMBERLAIN, S.D. — Jelly Roll, the rising country music star, made an impassioned plea during an appearance on the “Bussin With the Boys” podcast for the Super Bowl to be hosted in Nashville in 2027, coinciding with the opening of a new stadium for the Tennessee Titans.

“You know what my dream would be? When it comes to Nashville, they do a country music Super Bowl and it’s not even about one artist,” Jelly Roll said, highlighting his vision for a distinctive halftime show.

He elaborated on his concept, suggesting that the show could feature a lineup of prominent country artists performing in succession. “Like, it cuts to [Garth] Brooks on one stage and he’s doing ‘Friends In Low Places,’ then it goes to [Cody] Johnson, then me, then [Morgan] Wallen,” he explained.

If realized, Jelly Roll’s dream halftime show would utilize the traditional 25-30 minute slot, dividing it into five segments. He proposes that the opening acts lead the way for established headliners, with Brooks opening the show and Wallen closing it.

“While an argument can be made for both sides — Wallen is definitely the biggest star of the modern era — Brooks wears the larger belt overall and is far removed from being anyone’s opening act,” he added.

The call for Nashville to host a Super Bowl coincides with a growing sentiment among country music fans that the genre deserves a spotlight on the national stage. Despite the popularity of country music, the Super Bowl halftime show has featured next to no representation from the genre for over three decades, with the last country headliners being Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, Wynonna Judd, and Naomi Judd in a medley during the 1994 broadcast.

As the genre continues to gain traction, fans are optimistic about a potential country music showcase at the Super Bowl. With Jelly Roll and other artists pushing for a dedicated country performance, the timing appears ripe for the NFL to embrace this cultural shift.

Regardless of who ends up commanding the halftime stage, the demand for country music’s representation at such a high-profile event is clear. As Jelly Roll concluded, “Fingers crossed that Nashville gets its Super Bowl era in the next few years, regardless of who plays the halftime show.”