4t Fans have launched a petition to replace Bad Bunny with George Strait for the Super Bowl Halftime Show
In a move that’s igniting the cultural fault lines of American entertainment, a grassroots petition has surged online, demanding the NFL swap out Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny for country music icon George Strait as the headliner for Super Bowl LX’s halftime show. Launched on Change.org just weeks after the NFL’s September 2025 announcement, the campaign—titled “Replace Bad Bunny with George Strait for the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show”—has already amassed over 1,500 signatures, with supporters framing it as a battle for the soul of American music. As the February 8, 2026, spectacle at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, looms, this petition isn’t just fan fervor; it’s a referendum on tradition versus globalization, family values versus boundary-pushing artistry.
The petition’s architect, user Kar Shell, pulls no punches in her manifesto. “The Super Bowl halftime show should unite our country, honor American culture, and remain family-friendly, not be turned into a political stunt,” she writes. Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is lambasted for his “drag performances and style” that allegedly clash with the event’s wholesome ethos. The 31-year-old reggaeton and trap sensation, known for hits like “Tití Me Preguntó” and “Un Verano Sin Ti,” has openly criticized Donald Trump and skipped U.S. tours amid political tensions. Petition backers fear he’ll hijack the stage for activism, turning football’s pinnacle into a protest rally. “Bad Bunny represents none of these values,” the text blasts, contrasting him with Strait’s “unity, tradition, and timeless American music.”
Enter George Strait, the 73-year-old “King of Country,” whose velvet baritone has defined the genre for four decades. With 60 No. 1 singles, over 100 million records sold, and a recent Kennedy Center Honor, Strait is the epitome of red-state reverence. Fans gush in comments: “Have the king of country make this year’s Super Bowl 10x better than last year,” one reads, while another declares, “George Strait is a country classic, 100x better than Bad Bunny.” Strait’s set could feature anthems like “Amarillo by Morning” or “Check Yes or No,” evoking boot-stomping nostalgia over Bad Bunny’s bilingual beats. Proponents argue it’s high time country reclaimed the halftime spotlight—last graced by The Weeknd and Shakira/J.Lo in recent years—honoring the NFL’s heartland fanbase.
This isn’t isolated outrage. A parallel petition, simply “Replace Bad Bunny in the Super Bowl Halftime Show,” has eclipsed 10,000 signatures without naming an alternative, signaling broader discontent. On X (formerly Twitter), the debate rages. Influencer @TaraBull808’s post—”Fans have launched a petition to replace Bad Bunny with George Strait for the Super Bowl Halftime Show”—garnered over 2,100 likes and 29,000 views in hours, spawning threads of memes and manifestos. Breitbart amplified the story as “viral,” while TMZ dubbed it “drastic measures.” Detractors, however, decry it as cultural gatekeeping. “Country music hasn’t been played in the Super Bowl in a long time… it’s time for change,” one signer countered, highlighting the genre’s own hiatus. Bad Bunny’s defenders point to his global draw—over 40 billion Spotify streams—and the NFL’s push for diversity via Jay-Z’s Roc Nation partnership since 2019.
Past petitions underscore the tradition’s potency. In 2023, over 224,000 signatures urged Donna Kelce for the coin toss; 2015 saw 70,000 for Metallica. Yet, the league rarely budges. NFL spokespeople have stood firm, praising Bad Bunny’s “electrifying energy” as a nod to America’s multicultural fabric. Strait, ever the troubadour, hasn’t commented, focusing on his Vegas residency.
As signatures climb, this clash exposes deeper divides: Is the Super Bowl a melting pot or a monument to Americana? For now, Bad Bunny preps his set, but Strait’s admirers are saddling up, determined to lasso the spotlight. In a nation tuning in by the millions, will cowboy chords trump trap rhythms? History—and the NFL—will decide.
