Shakira Praises Bad Bunny's Historic 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Performance

Shakira has expressed strong support and excitement for Bad Bunny headlining the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show, calling it a long-awaited milestone for Latin and Spanish-language music on a global stage. She reflected on their 2020 halftime performance with Jennifer Lopez, noting that performing in Spanish was then considered a bold and somewhat resisted move, and credited her own efforts as helping to pave the way for greater acceptance of Latin music in mainstream pop. Shakira praised Bad Bunny for representing Latin culture and emphasized the cultural significance of the moment, urging critics to give his performance a chance. Despite some backlash from political conservatives over Bad Bunny's use of Spanish in his music, Shakira and others view his headlining role as a historic and authentic celebration of Latin music and identity. Bad Bunny himself has framed the performance as honoring his people, culture, and history. The 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show will take place on February 8 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.