Niki Kelly
It seems everything is political these days, and the Super Bowl halftime show is no different.
I know nothing about Bad Bunny and doubt I have ever heard a song of his. But it’s clear he is a global phenomenon who many are looking forward to watching, my daughter included. And he will draw new audience members from international markets.
But he has struck a negative chord with some Americans.
Since the announcement, Turning Point USA has created an alternative “family-friendly” halftime show with no officially announced acts. And there is a petition with almost 23,000 signatures urging the National Football League to jettison Bad Bunny in favor of country star George Strait.
I want to add my vote against Bad Bunny, though it has nothing to do with his native language, Spanish. I simply think it’s time for the show to feature another genre of music beyond rap, R&B and hip hop, which has dominated the halftime entertainment in recent memory.
I’m not categorically against it. I loved Bruno Mars’ show in 2014 and Usher in 2024.
But take a look at the list of artists from the last six years: Kendrick Lamar, Usher, Rihanna, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, The Weeknd, Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Ludacris, Lil John, 50 Cent, Travis Scott and more.
Most of those shows were produced by rap mogul Jay-Z and his entertainment company Roc Nation. Apple Music has also sponsored the show the last three years and will again in 2026.
I understand the NFL might want to draw a younger viewing audience, but in the meantime, it is ignoring its existing audience. An S&P Global report from December 2024 said nearly half, or 47%, of viewers are aged 55 or older.
I hope the NFL will consider adding rock, country or pop back into the rotation. So, I’ve come up with some suggestions for the halftime show. What do you think?
- Chris Stapleton — He is undoubtedly one of the biggest country stars around with a wealth of songs to choose from. He also has done a number of collaborations with other artists that could be featured, whether it be Adele, Ed Sheeran, Pink or Justin Timberlake.
- Green Day — This punk rock band would bring a great retro vibe to the show. The group toured the last two years and could feature newer and classic songs. Heck, Dua Lipa just surprised her audience by bringing the band’s frontman up for a duet and it was a hit.
- Taylor Swift, Adele or Pink — This is my girl-power pick. I’m including several options because I know many people have tired of Taylor Swift being everywhere. And her engagement to an NFL star is a complicating factor. But there is no denying she would bring eyeballs to a halftime show. Pink is a top-notch performer who I would love to see do the show, as well. And Adele’s powerful voice wouldn’t need any auto-tuning.
- Jelly Roll – He has rap roots but has transitioned into country and soul, meaning he could bring both vibes to the show. His songs are full of real stories and struggles and he would be a great performer for the big stage.
My last suggestion is more open-ended, which is to say a repeat performance. Several artists performed years ago that I would love to see again. That includes Bruce Springsteen, U2 and Lady Gaga.
Political considerations aside, it’s simply time to welcome other genres of music back to the biggest sporting event of the year.
Niki Kelly is editor-in-chief of indianacapitalchronicle.com, where this commentary previously appeared. She has covered Indiana politics and the Indiana Statehouse since 1999 for publications including the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. Send comments to editorial@therepublic.com.
