Bad Bunny to Headline Super Bowl Halftime, Sparking Record Viewership and Political Firestorm
Updated (9 articles)
Bad Bunny Becomes First Spanish‑Language Super Bowl Halftime Headliner The NFL announced that Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny will perform during the Feb. 8, 2026 halftime at Levi’s Stadium, marking the first ever Spanish‑language act in the show’s history[1]. His selection follows a historic Grammy sweep in which he won Album of the Year and the música urbana album award, the first full‑Spanish record to claim the top prize[1][6]. Bad Bunny’s recent Puerto Rico residency drew more than 500,000 fans, underscoring his massive streaming reach and cementing his status as a global Latin music ambassador[6][7].
Conservative Leaders Launch Counterprogram and Condemn Selection Former President Donald Trump labeled the halftime choice “terrible” and announced he would skip the game, while Republican lawmakers such as Marjorie Taylor Greene and Fox commentator Tomi Lahren publicly denounced the booking as a provocation[2][3]. Turning Point USA responded by streaming an “All‑American Halftime Show” featuring Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice and Gabby Barrett, positioning it as a “faith, family, and freedom” alternative[4][4]. House Speaker Mike Johnson also called the Bad Bunny pick “a terrible decision,” echoing the broader right‑wing backlash[1].
NFL Projects Record Global Audience and Youth Latino Growth The league forecasts a record 150 million global viewers for the halftime show, citing Bad Bunny’s four‑time Spotify global‑top‑streamed status and six Grammy wins as drivers of worldwide interest[2]. Analysts note that more than 39 million U.S. Latino fans—on average ten years younger than the median viewer—represent a key demographic for future growth[2]. Roc Nation’s Desiree Perez defended the booking, emphasizing Bad Bunny’s market power and chart‑topping Billboard 200 albums as evidence he is “the best of the best” for the world’s biggest stage[2].
Polls Show Nation Divided on Bad Bunny’s Halftime Appeal A YouGov survey of 1,672 adults conducted Jan. 30‑Feb. 2 found 35 % view Bad Bunny favorably, 32 % unfavorably, and 33 % undecided, with 28 % satisfied with his Super Bowl appearance[3]. Separate Harvard CAPS/Harris and TIPP polls recorded unfavorable views of President Trump ranging from 41 % to 50 %, highlighting the polarized political environment surrounding the event[3]. A Change.org petition to replace Bad Bunny with George Strait amassed over 100,000 signatures, reflecting organized opposition alongside the mixed public sentiment[3].
Sources
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1.
CNN: Bad Bunny to Make Super Bowl Halftime History as First Spanish‑Language Headliner: Details the historic selection, Grammy achievements, Puerto Rican community pride, and conservative backlash including Trump’s criticism and Turning Point USA’s alternative show.
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2.
Newsweek: Bad Bunny’s 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show Sparks Political Backlash and Business Optimism: Highlights the SNL announcement, Republican condemnation, Roc Nation’s defense, Instagram trailer metrics, language‑driven backlash analysis, and NFL’s projected 150 million global viewers.
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Newsweek: Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show Sparks Split Public Opinion and Political Pushback: Reports poll results showing narrow favorability, Trump’s condemnation, alternative halftime plans, and Bad Bunny’s anti‑ICE remarks fueling controversy.
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4.
WBNS: Turning Point USA Announces Alternative Halftime Show for Super Bowl Sunday: Announces the conservative “All‑American Halftime Show” lineup, streaming platforms, and context of backlash following Bad Bunny’s Grammy win.
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5.
CNN: Cardi B’s Super Bowl Spotlight: Performance Rumors and Patriots Support: Covers Cardi B’s SNL appearance, rumors of joining Bad Bunny, her connection to Patriots’ Stefon Diggs, and her scheduled performance at a pre‑Super Bowl party.
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6.
WBNS: Bad Bunny’s Grammy win fuels anti‑ICE message ahead of Super Bowl show: Describes Bad Bunny’s Grammy victories, ICE‑out speech, halftime schedule, and broader pro‑immigration statements from other winners.
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7.
King5: Bad Bunny’s Grammy Win Fuels Anti‑ICE Message Ahead of Super Bowl Show: Mirrors WBNS coverage of Grammy wins, ICE‑out remarks, halftime details, and his record‑breaking Puerto Rico residency.
Timeline
Mar 10, 1994 – Bad Bunny (Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) is born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico to a truck‑driver father and an English‑teaching mother, providing the cultural roots that later define his global appeal [3].
2016 – DJ Luian signs Bad Bunny to Hear This Music after hearing his SoundCloud tracks, launching his professional music career [3].
Dec 24, 2018 – Bad Bunny releases debut album X 100PRE, establishing him as a major force in Latin urban music [3].
Jun 28, 2019 – Bad Bunny and J Balvin drop joint album Oasis, cementing his status as a leading Latin artist [3].
Feb 2, 2020 – Bad Bunny appears during Shakira’s Super Bowl LIV halftime show, gaining early exposure to the NFL’s massive audience [3].
2021 – Bad Bunny makes his WWE debut, expanding his crossover appeal beyond music [3].
Feb 20, 2021 – Bad Bunny serves as musical guest on Saturday Night Live, increasing his U.S. mainstream visibility [3].
Oct 21, 2023 – Bad Bunny hosts and performs on SNL, further solidifying his cultural footprint in American media [3].
2022 – Bad Bunny’s album Un Verano Sin Ti receives the historic first all‑Spanish Album‑of‑the‑Year nomination at the Grammys, highlighting his breakthrough into mainstream award recognition [3].
Feb 2024 – Bad Bunny co‑chairs the 2024 Met Gala alongside Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez and Chris Hemsworth, signaling his ascent into global fashion and philanthropy circles [3].
Jul 11, 2025 – Bad Bunny begins a two‑month, 30‑date residency in Puerto Rico, reserving nine shows for island residents and projecting roughly $200 million economic impact [3].
Sep 28, 2025 – The NFL announces Bad Bunny as the headline performer for Super Bowl LX halftime, marking the first Spanish‑language headliner in the show’s history [3].
Jan 2026 (SNL episode) – Bad Bunny reveals on Saturday Night Live that he will headline the 2026 Super Bowl halftime, warning viewers “If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn.” [4]
Feb 4, 2026 – Bad Bunny wins Album of the Year and the música urbana album Grammy, opens his acceptance speech with “ICE out,” and urges viewers to see immigrants as “humans and we are Americans.” [7]
Feb 4, 2026 – Bad Bunny becomes the first Spanish‑language act to headline a Super Bowl halftime show, prompting pride among Puerto Rican fans and condemnation from conservatives, including former President Donald Trump calling the choice “terrible.” [1][5]
Feb 4, 2026 – House Speaker Mike Johnson labels the Bad Bunny halftime pick “a terrible decision,” while Turning Point USA plans an “All‑American Halftime Show” as an alternative. [1]
Feb 4, 2026 – Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez defends Bad Bunny’s selection, citing his four‑time Spotify global‑top‑streamed status and six Grammy wins as proof he is “the best of the best” for the world’s biggest stage. [4]
Feb 4, 2026 – Billboard’s Leila Cobo notes that backlash centers on the Spanish language rather than politics, reflecting America’s cultural‑identity divide. [4]
Feb 4, 2026 – The NFL projects a record 150 million global viewers for the halftime show and highlights the 39 million U.S. Latino fans as a key growth demographic. [4]
Feb 2, 2026 – Turning Point USA announces its “All‑American Halftime Show” for Feb 8, featuring Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice and Gabby Barrett, streaming on X, YouTube, Rumble and conservative news outlets. [6]
Feb 4, 2026 – Cardi B headlines SNL’s 1,000th episode, delivering a high‑profile performance that fuels rumors she might join Bad Bunny’s halftime set. [2]
Feb 4, 2026 – Cardi B tells NFL Network she is “very excited…very proud” of boyfriend Stefon Diggs and the Patriots’ Super Bowl run, and she will perform at Michael Rubin’s Fanatics pre‑Super Bowl party in San Francisco. [2]
Feb 8, 2026 – Bad Bunny headlines the Super Bowl 60 halftime show at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, with the Patriots facing the Seahawks; the NFL pays him only the union‑mandated $1,000 per day while covering $10‑20 million production costs. [8]
Feb 8, 2026 – Turning Point USA streams its alternative halftime program concurrently, offering a “faith, family, and freedom” concert featuring Kid Rock and others as a conservative counterpoint. [6]
All related articles (9 articles)
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CNN: Bad Bunny to Make Super Bowl Halftime History as First Spanish‑Language Headliner
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Newsweek: Bad Bunny’s 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show Sparks Political Backlash and Business Optimism
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Newsweek: Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show Sparks Split Public Opinion and Political Pushback
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WBNS (Columbus, OH): Turning Point USA Announces Alternative Halftime Show for Super Bowl Sunday
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CNN: Cardi B’s Super Bowl Spotlight: Performance Rumors and Patriots Support
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WBNS (Columbus, OH): Bad Bunny’s Grammy win fuels anti‑ICE message ahead of Super Bowl show
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King5 (Seattle, WA): Bad Bunny’s Grammy Win Fuels Anti‑ICE Message Ahead of Super Bowl Show
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WBNS (Columbus, OH): Bad Bunny to Headline Super Bowl 60 Halftime Show with No Appearance Fee
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CNN: Bad Bunny’s Career Milestones, Grammy Wins, Met Gala Role and Upcoming Super Bowl Show
External resources (9 links)
- https://variety.com/2025/music/news/house-speaker-johnson-bad-bunny-super-bowl-halftime-1236542862/ (cited 1 times)
- https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2023/09/bad-bunny-on-sex-social-media-and-kendall-jenner (cited 1 times)
- https://www.instagram.com/reel/DT88kWJgOSA/ (cited 1 times)
- https://www.instagram.com/reels/DT9FbeXEcQI/ (cited 1 times)
- https://x.com/iamcardib/status/1576458083265523712?s=20 (cited 1 times)
- https://thespun.com/nfl/bad-bunny-rumor-swirling-before-super-bowl-60-performance (cited 1 times)
- https://www.americanhalftimeshow.com/ (cited 1 times)
- https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/cardi-b-fanatics-super-bowl-party-san-francisco-1236167144/ (cited 1 times)
- https://www.grammy.com/artists/bad-bunny/243129 (cited 1 times)