Shakira Says She’s “So Proud” As Bad Bunny Is Set To Headline Super Bowl Halftime Show

Shakira could not be prouder to see Bad Bunny take the Super Bowl stage next. Six years after the Colombian superstar shared the halftime spotlight with Jennifer Lopez and brought Bad Bunny out as a surprise guest, the Puerto Rican rapper is set to headline the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on February 8, 2026.

For Shakira, 48, it feels like the perfect full-circle moment. “It’s about time,” she told Variety in an interview published on October 21. “I remember when we did ours that even having part of our set in Spanish was a bold move… Acceptance of Spanish-language music as part of the mainstream has come so far from when I started.”

Back in 2020, their shared performance made history, blending Latin beats, bilingual lyrics, and cultural pride for millions watching around the world. Now, Shakira says she’s thrilled to see Bad Bunny, 31, take it even further.

Shakira credited years of pushing boundaries for making this moment possible. She reflected on how the period her music faced “resistance or puzzlement from the English-speaking world before it was embraced helped forge the path to where we are now.”

As for Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, his selection has sparked both excitement and controversy. Some, including Trump adviser Corey Lewandowski and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, have claimed that U.S. immigration agents will be “present” at the event, given that he primarily performs in Spanish.

But for Shakira, none of that overshadows what this means for Latin music. “He represents not only Latin culture but also how important Spanish language music has become on a global scale and how universal it has become. It’s the perfect moment for a performance like this. I can’t wait to watch it,” she said.

Jennifer Lopez, 56, who shared that same halftime stage with Shakira, echoed her excitement while speaking on CBS Mornings earlier this month. “Don’t do that to yourself,” she said, responding to critics who questioned the NFL’s decision. “That’s what I would say. I’m telling you, just give it a chance.”

Bad Bunny himself sees his headlining moment as a victory for everyone who paved the way before him. “What I’m feeling goes beyond myself,” he said in a press statement. “It’s for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown… this is for my people, my culture, and our history. Ve y dile a tu abuela, que seremos el HALFTIME SHOW DEL SUPER BOWL.”