Shakira supports Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Spotlight as a Victory for Latin Music
- Oct 24, 2025
- 3 min read
24 October 2025
Shakira has stepped into the spotlight to back Bad Bunny’s upcoming headline performance at the Super Bowl LX halftime show, calling his selection “about time” and framing it as a breakthrough for Spanish-language music at the world’s largest stage.
In an interview with Variety, Shakira reflected on the long journey of Latin artists gaining recognition in mainstream U.S. entertainment. She reminded listeners of her own experience in 2020 when she co-headlined the Super Bowl halftime show alongside Jennifer Lopez and included Spanish-language portions in the set that even that step felt bold at the time. “Acceptance of Spanish-language music as part of the mainstream has come so far from when I started,” she said.
Shakira went further, suggesting that the critical and commercial resistance she once faced helped pave the way for moments like this. “I hope and like to think that all the times my music was met with resistance or puzzlement from the English-speaking world before it was embraced helped forge the path to where we are now,” she told the publication.
The context around Bad Bunny’s announcement has been densely layered. He was chosen to headline the Super Bowl LX halftime show scheduled for February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California an announcement that spurred both celebration and backlash. While many media outlets and Latino-culture advocates applauded the move as recognition of his global influence and the growing power of Latin music, conservative figures derided it, some insisting the halftime slot should go to an English-language or “traditional” performer.
Shakira highlighted how this moment is larger than any one artist. “I’m so proud that Bad Bunny, who represents not only Latin culture but also how important Spanish-language music has become on a global scale and how universal it has become, is getting to perform on the biggest stage in the world,” she said. “It’s the perfect moment for a performance like this. I can’t wait to watch it.”
Her remarks underscore a cultural shift: Spanish-language musical artists have gradually moved from niche segments into mainstream global platforms. Shakira, a seasoned pioneer in this space, frames Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl appearance as both overdue and emblematic of broader change. By publicly defending him, she signals solidarity and a shared legacy of breaking barriers.
Beyond a music-industry milestone the issue touches on identity, representation, and inclusion. For fans of Latin music and Spanish-speaking audiences, the Super Bowl stage has long been a symbol of mainstream American pop culture dominance; this move suggests that pop culture is evolving to reflect a more global and multilingual reality. For Shakira it is deeply personal—her earlier career choices, the daring use of Spanish lyrics, and her own cultural visibility add weight to her endorsement now.
At the same time this moment is not without its tensions. Critics of Bad Bunny’s selection have cited concerns over language barriers, generational divides, and the meaning of “All-American” cultural moments. But supporters argue that in an increasingly diverse and interconnected world, the idea of what qualifies as “mainstream” is expanding. Shakira’s vocal support and framing of the moment as long-awaited suggests how entrenched these shifts have become.
As the performance date approaches, attention will center on how Bad Bunny’s show is crafted how language, culture, music and spectacle converge. Whether his set leans fully Spanish, includes translated elements, or blends universality with specificity will matter not just for fans but for cultural conversation. Shakira’s endorsement sets expectations high.
In short, Shakira’s remarks are more than celebrity commentary they reflect a wider evolution in music, representation and pop-culture validation. The Super Bowl halftime show may be a few months away but already the moment feels historic. Category: Music & Pop Culture
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