Bad Bunny made history as the first Latin artist to deliver a Super Bowl primarily in Spanish — and he went all out. The superstar staged an upbeat blowout for the books, complete with dancers, tons of Puerto Rican pride, and even a Lady Gaga appearance.
Bad Bunny kicked off the performance with “Titi Me Pregunto” as he walked through a set full of Puerto Rican traditions, from pava hats to men playing dominos. He then transitioned into “Yo Perreo Sola” with an army of dancers.
After he blazed through “Voy a Llevarte a PR” and “Safaera,” the biggest surprise came when Lady Gaga came out to perform a salsa version of “Die With a Smile.” Behind her, Bad Bunny’s backing band Los Pleneros de la Cresta played the updated arrangement. Eventually, they moved into “Baile Inolvidable.”
Bad Bunny then played “Nuevayol,” “Lo Que Paso a Hawaii,” “El Apagon, “Cafe con Ron,” and ended with “DtMf” and a giant blaze of fireworks. In between, he shouted out “God bless America!” and named every country in Latin America.
It’s not Bad Bunny’s first time on the Super Bowl stage. He popped out to sing his Cardi B hit “I Like It” when Jennifer Lopez and Shakira headlined in 2020. Still, his halftime show has been among the most anticipated ever: It was as historic as it was controversial, igniring a fervor in MAGA circles. Right-wingers took issue with the NFL’s headliner choice, with many blasting it as “un-American,” despite the fact that Bad Bunny is from Puerto Rico and a U.S. citizen. The organization Turning Point USA even went as far as staging an “alternative halftime,” which featured Kid Rock. Donald Trump said he didn’t know who the artist was and that the choice was “ridiculous.”
Bad Bunny kept pretty quiet. During a press conference a few days ago, he explained that his main priority was highlighting Puerto Rican culture. “I want to bring to the stage, of course, a lot of my culture, but I don’t want to give any spoilers,” he said. He continued to play up the celebratory aspect of the performance: “It’s gonna be fun and it’s going to be a party…People only have to worry about dance … I think there’s no better dance than the one that come from the heart.”
