Bad Bunny Set to Star in Super Bowl Halftime Show Performance
Bad Bunny to Headline Super Bowl Halftime Show in Santa Clara
Bad Bunny’s Historic Super Bowl Performance Announcement
Puerto Rican reggaeton star Bad Bunny is set to headline the halftime show at the upcoming Super Bowl, the final event of the National Football League (NFL) and one of the most-watched broadcasts annually in the United States. The global stage will feature Latin music again on February 8, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, near San Francisco.
In a statement released by the NFL, Bad Bunny expressed his honor to perform, stating, “What I feel goes beyond myself. It’s for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could score a touchdown.” He enthusiastically invited fans to celebrate, adding, “This is for my people, my culture, and our history. Go tell your grandma—we’re going to be the HALFTIME SHOW OF THE SUPER BOWL.”
Exciting Reveal: Bad Bunny and the NFL
To announce his participation, the NFL released a short video featuring the 31-year-old superstar seated atop a goalpost at a sunset beach. The singer, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, shared the video with his 50 million Instagram followers. He commented, “I’ve been thinking about it these days, and after discussing it with my team, I think I’ll do a single date in the USA.”
From Puerto Rico to Global Recognition
Bad Bunny recently concluded a series of 31 concerts in San Juan, celebrating Puerto Rican identity and culture. These performances in the U.S. territory attracted global celebrities such as athletes LeBron James and Kylian Mbappé and actors Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz. In November, he will embark on his world tour “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” which interestingly excludes U.S. stops. The artist mentioned concerns about his concerts being affected by the ongoing immigration raids under the Trump administration.
A Legacy of Iconic Super Bowl Performers
The Super Bowl has a storied history of performances by legends such as The Rolling Stones, Prince, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, and U2. Bad Bunny, a three-time Grammy Award winner, will take over from Kendrick Lamar, who performed in New Orleans when the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, drawing an audience of approximately 127 million people.
2020 was the last time Latin music took center stage at the Super Bowl, when Shakira and Jennifer López invited Bad Bunny and J Balvin to the stage in Miami. Shakira welcomed Bad Bunny’s return to the event, celebrating the news on Instagram with the words, “Welcome back to the Super Bowl stage. Here goes my Latin people!”
NFL’s Strategic Choice in Bad Bunny
The NFL describes Bad Bunny as an “exciting and natural choice” for their biggest showcase. Jon Barker, NFL’s Vice President of Global Event Production, highlighted his global influence and ability to connect across genres, languages, and audiences as key reasons for his selection. “What Benito has done and continues to do for Puerto Rico is truly inspiring,” said rapper Jay-Z, whose company Roc Nation has been managing the halftime show since 2019.
Although not the most rumored name for the slot, with speculation around artists like Adele and Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny’s selection underscores the NFL’s aim to diversify and expand its international reach. Taylor Swift, closely linked to the NFL in recent years, attended the last two Super Bowls to support her fiancé, Kansas City Chiefs leader Travis Kelce. League Commissioner Roger Goodell previously mentioned a desire to see Swift on the Super Bowl stage.
