At the 2023 Primetime Creative Arts Emmys on Sunday night, JAY-Z won the award for Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special for co-directing Rihanna’s Super Bowl halftime show. In this category, the legendary rapper surpassed Joel Gallen with Chris Rock: Selective Outrage, Linda Mendoza with Wanda Sykes: I'm an Entertainer, Paul Miller with Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love, and Glenn Weiss with The Oscars. Hov shared the honor with his co-director, Hamish Hamilton, who had directed every Super Bowl Halftime Show since 2010.
The halftime show also received the award for Outstanding Production Design for a Variety Special. When the NFL first announced that Rihanna would be performing at the game in 2022, JAY-Z praised her, stating, “Rihanna is a generational talent, a woman of humble beginnings who has surpassed expectations at every turn. A person born on the small island of Barbados who became one of the most prominent artists ever. Self-made in business and entertainment.”
JAY-Z had previously won an Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) for his work on the Super Bowl Halftime Show in 2022, which featured Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar, with guest appearances from 50 Cent and Anderson .Paak.
In February 2024, Usher will headline the Super Bowl Halftime Show following the release of his upcoming album, Coming Home. The game will take place on Sunday, February 11. Keep an eye out for further updates on JAY-Z, Rihanna, and the Super Bowl Halftime Show on 103.5 The Beat.