Pulitzer Prize-winning Puerto Rican pop star Bad Bunny will headline next year's Super Bowl half-time show in California.
The singer and rapper, who has topped Spotify's most-streamed artist list in three of the past five years, will squeeze his hits into less than 15 minutes on US TV's most-watched night in February.
In a football-themed statement, he said: What I'm feeling goes beyond myself. 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.
Recently, he expressed concerns about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents possibly conducting raids on fans at his concerts, which caused him to avoid US touring dates during the current world tour.
He will take the stage at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara on February 8, following in the footsteps of previous half-time performers like Kendrick Lamar, Usher, and Rihanna.
Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, added in Spanish: Ve y dile a tu abuela, que seremos el halftime show del Super Bowl - translating to: Go tell your grandma we're going to be the Super Bowl half-time show.
Jay-Z, whose Roc Nation company selects and produces the half-time performer, praised Bad Bunny’s work for Puerto Rico, calling it truly inspiring.
Last year, Bad Bunny's album 'Un Verano Sin Ti' became the first all-Spanish language album to reach number one in the US. He's also recognized as the third most-streamed artist worldwide, and currently leads the nominations for this year's Latin Grammy Awards.
Bad Bunny will begin his upcoming tour in the Dominican Republic before traveling to Central and South America, Australia, Japan, and Europe, including performances at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London in summer 2024.
His Super Bowl performance will be a significant event in showcasing Latin music's growing prominence on global platforms, as he continues to navigate the complex landscape of performing in the US amid ongoing immigration concerns.
