I assume we’re going to be watching Unhealthy Bunny throughout halftime this 12 months?
Nicely, I is perhaps going to refill my drink and get some extra snacks, however Unhealthy Bunny can be performing nonetheless…
Final evening, the NFL introduced that Unhealthy Bunny, a globally standard rapper, singer, and songwriter, would do the honors because the featured artist for the coveted Tremendous Bowl halftime efficiency spot.
For those who’re unfamiliar with Bunny, whose actual title is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, he’s had hits like “Dákiti” with Jhay Cortez, or “Titi Me Preguntó,” however if you happen to’re studying this as somebody who loves nation, you won’t know any of his music in any respect, and to be trustworthy, I don’t actually know any of it. I’ve heard his title earlier than and I do know what he seems to be like, however that’s about it.
I do not know what sort of performer he’s, and possibly will probably be nice and I’ll uncover some new music so as to add to my playlist:
However in fact, I hoped that we’d lastly get some kind of nation artist because the headliner, as a result of it has been a very long time coming, and if there was ever a time that it might make sense, it might be now.
The Tremendous Bowl halftime present is booked by means of the NFL, Roc Nation (led by Jay-Z), and the Tremendous Bowl’s host metropolis, so in some ways, that is smart as to why it’s been such a very long time since a rustic artist has been chosen. I extremely doubt Jay-Z is up-to-date on what’s occurring in nation, and even all that taken with having a rustic artist to carry out to start with. Regardless of that his spouse simply gained a Grammy for her “nation music” although…
However nation artists are dominating the charts, doing extremely properly in mainstream music, and it’s most likely extra related than it has ever been… even together with enormous a long time just like the ’90s, which was one other period of nation dominating within the mainstream tradition.
However because of artists like Morgan Wallen and Zach Bryan, nation has turn out to be some of the standard genres in all of music, although it’s been fairly a very long time since we’ve had a rustic act carry out on the Tremendous Bowl. Shania Twain was the final nation artist to headline the present in 2003… so it’s been over 20 years.
Many nation artists have been tapped for the Nationwide Anthem as of late like Chris Stapleton, Eric Church, and Reba come to thoughts straight away, however that’s merely not the identical and might truthfully damage greater than it helps… I imply, that’s an enormous viewers and a tough sufficient music to sing as it’s. Clearly, Stapleton’s was legendary, however typically the anthem is extra of a threat than it’s price, particularly on that sort of scale.
I do know it’s a protracted shot to assume the NFL would really decide a singular nation artist to headline halftime, and from a enterprise perspective, I can perceive that to a sure extent. They need somebody who’s internationally identified and has a confirmed file on the mainstream charts, as a result of they need to know individuals are going to tune in and have assurance will probably be successful.
The one downside with their logic, is that they’re severely misunderstanding how standard nation is within the mainstream world, and the way well-received a rustic artist acting at a Tremendous Bowl halftime present, one of many world’s largest phases, could be, particularly amongst American followers, which is the first viewers right here, though I do know it’s watched internationally.
During the last decade-plus, the Tremendous Bowl has had tons of pop, rap and hip hop stars headline, and I’ve loved loads of them… Rihanna’s has undoubtedly been my favourite that’s been more moderen, but it surely’s clear that they’ve had no real interest in nation, and for a very long time, they had been most likely proper about that… everyone knows what sort of music was popping out in 2015 by way of nation radio:
Most up-to-date Tremendous Bowl halftime headliners:
2026: Unhealthy Bunny
2025: Kendrick Lamar
2024: Usher
2023: Rihanna
2022: Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. & Kendrick
2021: The Weeknd
2020: Shakira & JLo
2019: Maroon 5
2018: Justin Timberlake
2017: Woman Gaga
2016: Coldplay
2015: Katy…— chart knowledge (@chartdata) September 29, 2025
However their resistance to have a rustic artist carry out when the style’s recognition is at an all-time excessive is solely fallacious, and I believe there are a handful of nation stars that will be an ideal option to do the coveted Tremendous Bowl halftime present.
Let’s get into it…
Morgan Wallen
That is the extraordinarily apparent selection, and whereas I doubt the NFL would ever actually rent Morgan Wallen as a result of previous controversies, I believe it might be a sensible transfer and an enormous success amongst viewers. Morgan is without doubt one of the largest names in all of music, an enormous worldwide star, and has the title to attract an enormous viewers from all types of demographics… rappers, professional athletes, pop and hip hop followers.
If the NFL was good and actually wished to create some pleasure round a halftime efficiency on a scale we actually haven’t seen in a very long time, they might severely think about Morgan for a halftime present sooner or later.
Luke Combs
Whereas not fairly as commercially profitable within the mainstream as Wallen, Luke Combs is a mainstream famous person who sells out NFL stadiums regularly, performs all over the world, and has crossover energy with collabs together with artists liken Leon Bridges, BigXthaPlug, Put up Malone, Ed Sheeran and extra.
He has the songs to fill a stadium and make for a rowdy good time, and contemplating he doesn’t have the checkered previous of somebody like Wallen, I believe he’d be an ideal match and draw a ton of viewership. Combs has so many football-ready bangers which were used for tons of school soccer themes, and I believe he’s a pure match and one other very apparent selection that deserves the halftime headlining gig.
Lainey Wilson
Lainey Wilson is a family title lately, and whereas I’m unsure she’s on the degree to the place she might headline on her personal, she has the stage presence and aptitude that would supply the leisure issue you want now to headline at halftime. The NFL isn’t going to place somebody with no little flash onstage anymore it looks like, and I believe Lainey undoubtedly has the character to be possibility for one thing like this.
George Strait
This may most likely be a protracted shot, however so far as nation legends go who might nonetheless do it and do it WELL, George Strait could be on the high of my listing. Icons like Dolly Parton additionally come to thoughts, however she’s admitted earlier than she’s turned it down, although I might be all for Dolly doing halftime too. She broke the web together with her Thanksgiving halftime efficiency a pair years in the past…
Strait has the title recognition, the hits, and the flexibility to promote out stadiums properly into his 70’s, and whereas it wouldn’t be a high-octane efficiency like we’ve been accustomed to over the past 20 years or so with Tremendous Bowl halftime exhibits, it might be legendary nonetheless.
Put up Malone
Put up Malone isn’t decidedly nation, however as everyone knows, he’s been within the style for a pair years now and has had a ton of success with it, notably releasing his debut nation file F-1 Trillion final 12 months which included tons of stars just like the three different folks on this listing in Lainey Wilson, Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen.
Outdoors of nation, Put up has an enormous profession in rap, pop and hip hop, and he’s a world famous person that truthfully looks like the proper particular person for this sort of gig. I believe he’s fairly universally beloved (even my mother likes a few of his music), and he’s an unbelievable performer that I believe would actually carry it for a present of this magnitude. Plus, seeing as virtually everybody brings out different artists for options throughout the Tremendous Bowl present lately, he would have a ton of individuals to choose from in nation and properly past that with different collabs he’s completed over time.
Out of everybody on this listing, I really assume Posty makes probably the most sense by way of what the NFL needs out of their Tremendous Bowl present due to his vary and selection, and I might completely like to see him get an opportunity to do it at some point.
This group, or any mixture of them, could be stellar choices, and I really assume a mix of Put up, Combs and Wallen could possibly be epic. The development has turn out to be having shock friends over time, and these three have already got songs collectively and are actually on the forefront of mainstream nation. I might additionally see some combo of Put up Malone, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson and even Cody Johnson masking most of the “nation music bases” so to talk.
I might LOVE to sit down right here and listing off folks like Tyler Childers and Sierra Ferrell as viable choices for this kind of factor, however that’s simply not life like, sadly. I might additionally love to simply get an acoustic efficiency from somebody like Miranda Lambert, however that’s simply by no means gong to occur… the NFL needs pageantry and showmanship, and for one thing like this, that does make sense, whether or not I prefer it or not.
If the NFL might at some point choose a rustic artist like these I’ve listed above I actually assume it might be an enormous success and one thing most Individuals would stay up for… I imply, what’s a greater pairing than soccer and nation music? It’s an ideal match, and it’s excessive time we get to see it onstage on the Tremendous Bowl once more.
Right here’s the 1994 halftime present which featured Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, and The Judds:
And Shania’s 2003 efficiency:
