As Bad Bunny prepares to make history at the Super Bowl halftime show, a wave of support has poured in from previous headliners of the iconic event. Katy Perry, Shakira, and Mary J. Blige have all sent heartfelt messages of encouragement to the Puerto Rican rapper ahead of his performance at Levi's Stadium on Sunday, 8 February 2026.
Messages from Super Bowl Legends
Katy Perry, who famously performed at the 2015 Super Bowl halftime show with a shark-themed backup dancer, took to social media platform X to wish Bad Bunny luck. She wrote, "You got this," and added, "remind the world what the real American dream looks like." This comment appears to reference criticisms from some MAGA supporters regarding Bad Bunny's decision to perform entirely in Spanish during the show.
Shakira's Nostalgic Post
Shakira, who co-headlined the massive 2020 Super Bowl halftime show with Jennifer Lopez and briefly brought Bad Bunny onstage as a guest star, shared a nostalgic Instagram post on Sunday. She posted a video of their 2020 performance together with the caption, "Remembering our first performance together at Super Bowl 2020 and wishing you, Benito, all the best tonight."
Mary J. Blige, the legendary singer who performed at both the 2001 and 2022 Super Bowl halftime shows, also offered her support in a conversation with People magazine last week. When asked if she had any advice for Bad Bunny, Blige responded, "Um, I don't think Bad Bunny needs any tips. He performs for billions and trillions of people. He's a great performer." She added, "He's gonna body it. He's gonna murder it. I just say blessings to you. Bad Bunny, kill it."
Cardi B's Praise and Political Context
Days before the Super Bowl, rapper Cardi B, who is widely expected to join Bad Bunny on stage to perform their hit song "I Like It," praised the Grammy winner for his activism. In an interview with the Associated Press on Saturday, Cardi B said, "I'm proud of everything that he's been standing up for against ICE and everything." She continued, "It just feels like everything is aligned right now. It just shows how Hispanics, Latinos... We standing. They standing. We all standing."
Alternative Halftime Show Emerges
While Bad Bunny receives support from former headliners, another Super Bowl alum is countering his performance with an alternative event. Kid Rock, who appeared as a guest performer in Nelly's set during the 2004 Super Bowl, is headlining Turning Point USA's "All-American Halftime Show." This MAGA-friendly alternative features singers Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett, highlighting the political and cultural divisions surrounding Bad Bunny's performance.
The Super Bowl halftime show, set against the backdrop of the Seattle Seahawks versus the New England Patriots game, promises to be a landmark moment. Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is poised to deliver a performance that celebrates Latin culture on one of the world's biggest stages, with messages of luck and solidarity from music industry icons echoing in the background.
