The internet has turned another mysterious Super Bowl clue into a full-blown casting announcement, and this time Miley Cyrus is at the center of the conversation.
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Miley Cyrus halftime speculation exploded this week after a screenshot circulated online claiming Apple Music briefly posted, then deleted, an image featuring the silhouette of a female performer. Many quickly began debating whether the figure was Cyrus, Britney Spears, or Beyoncé as fans searched the image for clues about the Super Bowl LXI halftime show. Miley’s name flew to the top of the list due to Dolly Parton’s recent death. The pair were close, and it has been speculated that Miley would soon perform a tribute.
There is one major problem with the Miley theory: investigators have not found evidence that Apple Music actually published the image. That has not stopped the Miley Cyrus halftime rumors from moving prediction markets.
Covers reported that Cyrus moved back to the top of its Super Bowl halftime market after the alleged leak spread online. The outlet listed her at a 61 percent implied probability in its October 6 update, followed by Jay-Z at 44 percent and Harry Styles at 25 percent. Covers also cautioned readers that there is no proof Apple Music ever published the image and noted how quickly prediction markets can react to rumors.
Despite the numbers, nothing is official. As of October 7, the NFL’s official Super Bowl halftime page continues to feature information about Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX performance rather than announcing a Super Bowl LXI artist.
The timing does explain why fans are watching closely. Yahoo Sports reported that since Apple Music became the halftime show’s primary sponsor in 2022, Rihanna, Usher, and Bad Bunny were announced in September, while Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX performance was announced during the opening weekend of the NFL season. The 2027 announcement is arriving later than that recent pattern.
Cyrus has also publicly discussed the possibility of taking the stage, although her comments were more complicated than a simple rejection.
Earlier this year, Cyrus told Variety, as quoted by E! News, “I always think the Super Bowl feels like too much pressure,” she said. “I would have to do the mental work of making it not about the Super Bowl, because then you can’t help but go, ‘It’s millions of people, and it’s the most-watched thing in the world.'”
In the fuller conversation, Cyrus left the door open. She said she could potentially embrace the opportunity if the performance were structured like her Hannah Montana 20th anniversary celebration, allowing her to move through different periods of her career and catalog.
A Super Bowl appearance would not be completely new territory for Cyrus either. According to TikTok’s official newsroom, she headlined the first TikTok Tailgate ahead of Super Bowl LV in Tampa in February 2021. The pregame concert included an audience of 7,500 vaccinated health care workers invited by the NFL.
There is another piece of timing worth considering. Ticketmaster currently lists Cyrus for two performances at the Hollywood Bowl on October 16 and October 18, meaning the singer already has major Los Angeles concerts on her immediate schedule as Super Bowl rumors continue circulating.
What is confirmed is where the NFL’s biggest game will be played. According to the NFL’s official calendar, Super Bowl LXI is scheduled for February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The league previously announced that the game will mark the second Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium in five years after the venue hosted Super Bowl LVI in 2022.
For now, Miley Cyrus halftime talk remains exactly that: talk. Her name makes sense given her catalog, performance history, and her own willingness to at least consider the opportunity, but the viral Apple Music screenshot should not be treated as confirmation. Until Apple Music, the NFL or Roc Nation makes an official announcement, one of the biggest entertainment jobs in sports remains open.
