Bad Bunny is living a moment he didn’t envision six years ago.
He was a guest performer for Shakira and Jennifer Lopez during the Super Bowl 54 halftime show, but he never imagined he’d be the headliner. It was mentioned by those around him, but it wasn’t Bad Bunny’s plan.
Six years later, Bad Bunny is the featured performer for halftime of Super Bowl 60.
“I never looked for this,” he said during the news conference for the halftime show Thursday in San Francisco. “Maybe it sounds like me trying to be the most humble or naive, but I swear to God I wasn’t looking for this. … My biggest achievement, my biggest pleasure is just to create, have fun doing it and connect with the people.”
Bad Bunny’s latest album, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” has connected with fans across the globe. The critically acclaimed album won three Grammy Awards last Sunday, including Album of the Year, making it the first Spanish-speaking album to win the honor.
He had a record-setting residency last year in Puerto Rico, which led to a world tour that is still going on. He’s had to plan the halftime show while also touring.
Now, Bad Bunny will take the lead on one of the biggest stages in sports, which will introduce him to even more fans.
Last year’s performer, Kendrick Lamar, had a record 133.5 million views from his performance in New Orleans. Bad Bunny, the most streamed artist in the world, could surpass Lamar’s totals.
Bad Bunny’s momentum entering the Super Bowl rivals Lamar in terms of hype and commercial success. Lamar won five Grammys the week before his performance and was preparing for a world tour on the heels of his publicized rap feud with Drake.
Bad Bunny’s selection was criticized by some because his music is primarily in Spanish, but the NFL and Roc Nation stuck with the selection.
When asked about special guests or how the show might look, he offered no hints Thursday.
“I don’t want to give any spoilers,” he said.
Instead, Bad Bunny only promised the show would be a 13-minute “party.”
“It’s going to be fun, it’s going to be easy, and people only have to worry about dancing,” he said. “I know I told them they had four months to learn Spanish. They don’t even have to learn Spanish. They (can) learn to dance, but I think there’s no better dance than the one that comes from the heart.”
Bad Bunny said he didn’t imagine the success of “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” when making the album, nor the idea of it leading to the Album of the Year Grammy. It was recorded in his native Puerto Rico as he looked to “connect” with himself and his culture.
The Super Bowl and a world tour also weren’t on his mind, even after the album’s success. He was simply content with having a residency on his island.
“It was like, wow, the world really wants me … so I should go?” Bad Bunny said. “To bring that feeling that was put into that album to one of the biggest stages in the world is something I never thought about.”
But Bad Bunny is now “grateful” and “excited” about Sunday’s show, and he’s trying not to add any pressure.
“I’m trying to enjoy it,” he said. “I know I’m going to have fun. All the crew, the people, they’re going to have fun. That’s what I’m trying to focus on — enjoy the moment.”