Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Message Resonates with Chicagoans

The Puerto Rican musician's nod to Latin American countries likely struck a chord with many in Chicago's diverse population.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show featured a powerful message of unity, as the Puerto Rican musician proclaimed 'God Bless América' and listed dozens of countries and territories in the Western Hemisphere. Academics say his reframing of 'America' beyond just the United States likely resonated with many Chicagoans, as an estimated one in eight residents was born outside the 50 U.S. states but in one of the places Bad Bunny named.

Why it matters

Bad Bunny's message builds on a long history of Latin American artists and scholars challenging the notion of 'America' as synonymous with the United States. In the current political climate, his inclusive vision stands in contrast to the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies.

The details

Bad Bunny's 13-minute Super Bowl halftime show featured a powerful moment where he proclaimed 'God Bless América' in English before listing off countries from Chile to Canada, ending with his native Puerto Rico. Academics say this reframed the meaning of 'America' beyond just the United States, likely resonating with many Chicagoans who were born in or have roots in the places he named.

  • Bad Bunny performed at the Super Bowl halftime show on February 11, 2026.
  • Just last month, the U.S. military captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The players

Bad Bunny

A Puerto Rican musician who headlined the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show.

Lilia Fernández

A history professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago who analyzed the significance of Bad Bunny's message.

Mérida M. Rúa

A Latino and Latina studies professor at Northwestern University who discussed the historical context of Bad Bunny's reframing of 'America'.

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What they’re saying

“Most Americans, when we talk about the U.S., we call it America as if the U.S. is the only nation that's America, but for people in Latin America and the Caribbean, América refers to the entire hemisphere.”

— Lilia Fernández, History professor (WBEZ)

“It seemed to be a message of inclusion and an alternative vision to the politics we're seeing right now in the United States, particularly from coming out of the White House and supporters of the president and his enforcement policies.”

— Lilia Fernández, History professor (WBEZ)

What’s next

The impact of Bad Bunny's message on Chicago's diverse population and the ongoing political debates around the meaning of 'America' will likely continue to be a topic of discussion in the coming weeks and months.

The takeaway

Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show highlighted how the definition of 'America' extends beyond the United States, resonating with Chicagoans with roots across the Western Hemisphere and challenging the narrow nationalist vision promoted by some political figures.