Super Bowl Halftime Show Producer Praises Jay-Z: 'He's Always Picked Right!'

Super Bowl Halftime Show producer Jesse Collins has praised Jay-Z's execution of producing the big game's musical performances.

In an interview with Variety, the producer spoke at length about his work on the Emmys and the Super Bowl Halftime Show, which he has worked on since 2021. "It's a decision that Jay makes," said Collins. "Since we've been on board with that show, he's made it every year, and it's been amazing. He's always picked right!"

After Kendrick Lamar was announced as the performer for the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show in New Orleans next year, some notable figures in hip-hop (including Nicki Minaj and Boosie Badazz) suggested that Lil Wayne, who has been vocal about wanting to perform at the Super Bowl for years, should have gotten the opportunity instead. In the interview, Collins addressed the outcry.

"We love Wayne," said Collins. "There’s always Vegas odds on who’s going to get to perform it. But I think we’re going to do an amazing show with Kendrick, and I think everybody’s going to love the halftime show. I know Kendrick is going to work exceptionally hard to deliver an amazing show."

Recently, Lil Wayne spoke out after all the chatter about the announcement of K-Dot. "I wanna say thank you. I wanna say thank you to every voice, every opinion, all the care, all the love and the support out there," he shared on Instagram. "Your words turned into arms and held me up when I tried to fall back. That hurt. Hurt a lot. You know what I’m talking about. It hurt a whole lot."

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Among those to criticize Jay-Z for the decision to snub Lil Wayne for the Halftime Show is Cam'ron, who called the move "egregious" and suggested that Hov was "hating" for no reason. Minaj also took most of her anger out on Jay. Meanwhile, Fat Joe and Jay Electronica have come to his defense.

There have also been conflicting reports that Drake, who showed his support for Lil Wayne throughout the discourse, was asked to headline the Super Bowl Halftime Show two times but declined.

Elsewhere in the interview, Jesse Collins Entertainment president Dionne Harmon revealed that the team behind the Halftime Show is heading out to the New Orleans Superdome on Tuesday, September 17 to talk about the plans for the show with Kendrick Lamar's team. "We've actually been a few times already in preparation," they noted, "but since the announcement, it's the first time Kendrick's team and us will all come together."