Inside Bad Bunny’s Meteoric Rise to Super Bowl Halftime Show Headliner

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What else did Bad Bunny have left to accomplish this year?

As a lifestyle expert, I’m constantly watching what’s trending, and let me tell you, this artist is *huge*! He absolutely blew everyone away with 600,000 fans attending his sold-out 31 shows back home in Puerto Rico. And get this – before he even hits the U.S., he’s launching his Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour on November 21st, starting in the Dominican Republic. It’s going to be massive!

He leads all 2025 Latin Grammy nominees with 12 nods, including Album, Record and Song of the Year.

In addition to everything else, Bad Bunny impressively stood out even alongside Adam Sandler and Travis Kelce in Happy Gilmore 2, playing a waiter who becomes a caddy. He also continued to develop his acting skills in the intense drama Caught Stealing with Austin Butler. Plus, he made his debut as both host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live.

“I’ve loved acting ever since I was a child,” the 31-year-old shared in August on The Sunday Sitdown With Willie Geist, “and it’s always been a big part of what I wanted to do.”

Feel free to choose what inspires you, as the artist known as Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio has consistently been making dreams come true.

Even with a busy 54-date world tour scheduled to last until July, he’s made time to perform in Santa Clara, California, on February 8, 2026, as the headliner for the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show.

I consistently approach everything I do with intention, and wherever I am, I make sure to represent my country and my music,” Bad Bunny explained on September 29th during Apple Music’s Halftime Headliner Special with Zane Lowe and Ebro Darden. “I’m still working out the details of what I’ll do during the show, but it’s going to be great.”

If Bad Bunny’s current success seems predictable, it’s because he always had confidence in his unique talent and vision. He never questioned what he offered to the music world.

I consistently give my all and put a lot of heart into my work,” Bad Bunny told Zane and Ebro. “I’m still developing, and I feel like a newcomer. I’m eager to achieve more and demonstrate my abilities.”

It’s clear he doesn’t like to become complacent, constantly seeking new ways to outdo himself, but Bad Bunny did take a moment to acknowledge his achievements from the summer.

Oh my gosh, you guys, what’s happening in San Juan right now, in that arena… it’s just magical! I was listening to him talk to Willie Geist about a month into his residency, and he said it’s such an incredible feeling to be able to share his culture, his country, his *land*, right there, in his own backyard! It’s like he’s finally home, and we’re all getting to experience it with him. I’m seriously obsessed!

While he feels most comfortable on stage, he is very private and keeps his personal life closely guarded. He maintains a strong boundary between his public persona and private self, keeping his personal space secure and inaccessible to others. It’s as if he has a strict rule about not letting people get too close to that part of his life.

I’ve always admired how mindful he is about who he lets into his life. He shared with Variety back in May that he really trusts his gut when it comes to how he spends his time. He prioritizes his well-being – his mental and emotional space – and puts himself first, bien cabrón, as he put it! It’s so heartwarming to hear him talk about the people he’s known forever, those childhood friends who still support him unconditionally. He truly feels blessed to have those long-lasting connections, no matter what life throws at them or how much time passes.

He’s certainly been open to new experiences, like his relationship with Kendall Jenner which lasted on and off throughout 2023 and 2024. Although they eventually broke up because they were both very busy, they stayed friends and never spoke about their relationship publicly.

After spending a few years going back and forth between Los Angeles and New York, Bad Bunny was eager to go back to living permanently in Puerto Rico and settle down.

He shared with Variety that the concept for the residency had been with him “for as long as I can remember.” He explained, “It just became harder and harder to put off as time went on.” He even confessed that finishing his previous tour was challenging, as he was eager to begin this new phase of his career.

Initially, tickets to Bad Bunny’s first nine shows were exclusively available to official residents of Puerto Rico. He wanted to show appreciation to his longtime, O.G. fans before making the remaining tickets available to everyone. This was his way of giving back to those who have supported him from the beginning, before opening up the tour to all comers.

Showing off his influence and staying true to his beliefs, he made the decision to exclude the rest of the United States from his planned tour schedule.

He told i-D in July that he’s played there numerous times. Every single show has gone well, and he described them all as magnificent. He especially appreciated connecting with Latino audiences who live in the U.S.

However, because Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory but not a state, people from the rest of North America could travel to visit him without restrictions.

He also mentioned that people of Latino and Puerto Rican descent in the United States could travel here, or anywhere else internationally. However, there was a worry about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) potentially being present at events in the U.S. He stated it was something they were…very concerned about.

However, he couldn’t pass up the chance to showcase his music and culture to a global audience. And when Bad Bunny performs for the 100 million viewers of Super Bowl LX, his primary goal will still be to make his fans back home proud.

I’m incredibly happy for my friends, my family, Puerto Rico, and Latinos everywhere,” he shared on the Halftime Headliner Special. “I’m thrilled to represent my culture and everything it stands for – it’s bigger than just me. You understand what I mean. It means a lot that we recorded at the beach in my hometown; it makes this whole experience even more special for us.

Of course he was excited for himself, too, but, he noted, “This is for everyone.”

By the way, 2026 will be Bad Bunny’s second time performing at the Super Bowl. He first appeared as a rising star alongside Jennifer Lopez and Shakira during the 2020 show in Miami. You can see how that memorable performance stacks up against the best Super Bowl Halftime Shows ever right here:

Kendrick Lamar’s performance was deeply moving, using symbolism to address the racial and political issues facing America. He also subtly referenced his ongoing conflict with Drake during the show.

Usher delivered an incredible performance, and the show was made even more special with guest appearances by Alicia Keys, will.i.am, Lil Jon, Ludacris, and H.E.R.

Rihanna’s red hot performance also served as her announcement for her pregnancy with baby No. 2.

Jennifer Lopez and Shakira’s 2020 Super Bowl performance was a landmark event, as they were the first Latina artists to headline the halftime show. During the performance, Lopez also shared a special moment with her daughter, Emme, as they performed together for the massive audience.

Lady Gaga made quite the impression at the when she dropped in from the sky at the NRG Stadium in Houston. Complete with pyrotechnics and multiple costume changes, the performance featured electric renditions of her hits “Poker Face,” “Born This Way,” “Telephone,” “Just Dance,” “Million Reasons” and “Bad Romance.”

Katy Perry‘s Super Bowl halftime performance drew the biggest crowd ever, featuring energetic versions of her hits like “Roar,” “Teenage Dream,” and “Firework.” The show also included special guests Lenny Kravitz and Missy Elliot.

As a lifestyle expert, I have to say, Bruno Mars absolutely *killed* it at Super Bowl XLVIII! He really brought the energy with all his biggest hits – songs like “Locked Out of Heaven” and “Just the Way You Are” had everyone going wild. And it wasn’t just him – he was joined by the incredible The Red Hot Chili Peppers, which took the whole performance to another level. It was a seriously funky night!

Beyoncé performed with her former Destiny’s Child bandmates, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, delivering an energetic performance as part of her headline show.

Madonna‘s incredibly energetic performance – featuring popular songs like “Give Me All Your Luvin’,” “Vogue,” “Like a Prayer,” and others – was nearly overshadowed by M.I.A.’s gesture of raising her middle finger. But not quite.

Following a fantastic performance by The Who in 2010, the Black Eyed Peas faced a challenge. However, the Grammy-winning group delivered an energetic show at the Super Bowl XLV halftime show, performing their popular songs like “I Gotta Feeling,” “Boom Boom Pow,” and “Let’s Get It Started,” and really impressed the audience.

The Who‘s frontman Roger Daltrey and guitarist Pete Townshend really energized Super Bowl XLIV with their rock performance.

Jennifer Hudson powerfully sang the National Anthem at Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, delivering a performance worthy of a Dreamgirl.

From “Purple Rain” to “Let’s Go Crazy,” Prince brought the party to Florida during Super Bowl XLI.

During the Super Bowl XL halftime show, the Rolling Stones played their popular rock songs, including “Start Me Up,” “Rough Justice,” and the iconic “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction,” giving the audience a lot to enjoy.

Paul McCartney rocked out during the Super Bowl XXXIX halftime show, playing a medley of songs including “Live and Let Die” and the Beatles hit “Hey Jude.”

Everyone expected the Super Bowl XXXVII halftime show to be popular, and it definitely was when Gwen Stefani appeared with Sting to perform their duet of “Message in a Bottle.”

Beyoncé has performed at the Super Bowl before. She showcased her Latin style alongside Carlos Santana during the pregame show for Super Bowl XXXVII, and the next year, she sang the national anthem at Super Bowl XXXVIII.

Oh my gosh, you guys, I was *there*! It was incredible! Bono and the rest of U2 absolutely blew everyone away when they performed three of their biggest songs at Super Bowl XXXVI. It wasn’t just a performance, it was a special tribute to 9/11, and it was just… magical. I’ll never forget it!

During Super Bowl XXXV’s halftime show, a legendary collaboration took place when Aerosmith shared the stage with pop sensations *NSync, Britney Spears, and Mary J. Blige. Together, they performed a memorable rendition of “Walk This Way,” bringing together rock and pop icons.

As a longtime fan, I’ll never forget Super Bowl XXXV! It kicked off in a way that was totally unexpected – with the Backstreet Boys singing the national anthem. It was a moment, honestly!

Phil Collins delivered with his performance of “Two Worlds” during Super Bowl XXXIV in Atlanta.

Christina Aguilera and Enrique Iglesias delighted millions of fans with their performance of “Celebrate The Future Hand in Hand.”

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2025-09-30 00:48