Petition Surpasses 65,000 Signatures to Replace Bad Bunny with George Strait at 2026 Super Bowl Halftime

A petition on Change.org demanding that George Strait replace Bad Bunny as the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show performer has garnered over 65,000 signatures. The petition, started by Kar Shell, argues that the halftime show should honor traditional American music and family-friendly values, emphasizing Strait's legacy as "The King of Country" with over 60 number-one singles and a 40-year career. Critics of Bad Bunny's selection point to his all-Spanish performance and drag elements as divisive and unrepresentative of American culture, while supporters of Bad Bunny, including celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, celebrate the historic choice of the first all-Spanish halftime show. The campaign stresses keeping politics out of the halftime show and uniting the country through music, but detractors label the petition xenophobic. The NFL has not responded to the petition, and in response to the controversy, organizations such as Turning Point USA have announced alternative halftime events celebrating faith and freedom. Overall, the debate highlights ongoing tensions about cultural representation and musical genres at America's biggest sporting event.