John Mellencamp Praises Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show

The rock legend says the Latin superstar's performance was "great" despite initially joking about his stage name.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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John Mellencamp appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher and initially poked fun at Bad Bunny's stage name, calling it "kind of a corny name." However, Mellencamp later praised Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show performance, saying "I don't know what Bad Bunny is saying, however I do know he is standing up for Puerto Rico and I am standing up for him. His halftime show was great."

Why it matters

Mellencamp's comments highlight the growing mainstream acceptance and appreciation for Latin music artists like Bad Bunny, who have increasingly been given high-profile performance slots at major events like the Super Bowl halftime show. Mellencamp's initial joke about the name also touches on the challenges some artists face in the industry when they have unconventional or non-English stage names.

The details

During his appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher, Mellencamp noted that critics had initially thought his stage name "John Cougar" was a "cornball" name, drawing a parallel to Bad Bunny's moniker. However, Mellencamp later took to Instagram to praise Bad Bunny's halftime show performance, saying he supported the Latin star despite not understanding the lyrics.

  • Mellencamp appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher on February 9, 2026.
  • Bad Bunny performed during the Super Bowl halftime show on February 9, 2026.

The players

John Mellencamp

A veteran rock musician who was forced to use the stage name "John Cougar" early in his career before later reverting to his real name.

Bad Bunny

A popular Latin music superstar who headlined the Super Bowl LX halftime show in 2026.

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What they’re saying

“It's kind of a corny name, I mean I don't have anything against the guy, but it is a funny name.”

— John Mellencamp, Musician (Real Time with Bill Maher)

“I don't know what Bad Bunny is saying, however I do know he is standing up for Puerto Rico and I am standing up for him. His halftime show was great.”

— John Mellencamp, Musician (Instagram)

What’s next

Mellencamp is set to kick off his "Dancing Words Tour — The Greatest Hits" on July 10, 2026 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with the tour wrapping up on August 12, 2026 in Mountain View, California.

The takeaway

Mellencamp's initial joke about Bad Bunny's name highlights the challenges some artists face in the music industry when they have unconventional or non-English stage names, but his later praise for Bad Bunny's halftime show performance shows the growing mainstream acceptance of Latin music and artists.