Bad Bunny to Perform at NFL Super Bowl Halftime Amid ICE Comments
Puerto Rican rapper, singer, and international best-selling artist Bad Bunny has been announced as the performer for the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show in California in February. The 31-year-old artist will grace one of the biggest stages in music, despite previously avoiding mainland US tour dates due to concerns about ICE agents.
Bad Bunny's selection for the halftime show comes after weeks of speculation. The NFL typically reveals the artist for the halftime show in Week 1. Just before the announcement, he tweeted in Spanish about considering a single date in the United States after discussions with his team.
This will be the second time the rapper, born Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, performs at the Super Bowl. He made a guest appearance at the Super Bowl LIV halftime show in Miami headlined by Shakira and Jennifer Lopez.
Bad Bunny, known for popularizing Spanish-language rap music, boasts over 77 million monthly listeners on Spotify. His 2025 album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, topped the Billboard 200 chart, marking his fourth No. 1 album in the US.
Despite his success, Bad Bunny's tour for the album did not include stops in the mainland US. He instead held a 31-show residency in San Juan, Puerto Rico, citing concerns about ICE agents and his lengthy residency in Puerto Rico as reasons for avoiding performances in the Continental US.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell had hinted at pop star Taylor Swift performing at the show, especially after her engagement to Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce. The speculation around the halftime show artist had also included Taylor Swift as a potential performer.
This year's Super Bowl Halftime Show continues the trend of featuring rap artists, with Bad Bunny following performances by Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent, Anderson .Paak, and Kendrick Lamar at Super Bowl LVI, and Kendrick Lamar and SZA at Super Bowl LIX.
Bad Bunny's influence in the music industry is evident from his streaming numbers. He ranks as the second-most streamed artist globally on Spotify, with over 77 million monthly listeners and more than 101 million followers on the platform.
The artist's impact extends to his accolades, including three Grammy Awards and eleven Latin Grammy Awards. His albums YHLQMDLG and El Último Tour Del Mundo, both released in 2020, have achieved Platinum status in the US.