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When Bad Bunny made history as the first solo Latino headliner at Super Bowl LX, the stage was packed with stars: Cardi B, Karol G, Jessica Alba, Pedro Pascal, Lady Gaga, and Ricky Martin all showed up. But one name was conspicuously absent: J Balvin.
So where was he, and why did he choose to sit this one out?
J Balvin was very much present in the San Francisco Bay Area during Super Bowl LX weekend, but he deliberately stayed off the halftime show stage. Speaking to TMZ ahead of the event, Balvin made his intentions clear: he wanted Bad Bunny to “kill it and destroy it” on his own, allowing his fellow Puerto Rican artist to command the spotlight solo during this historic moment.
Instead of performing, our ICON Sounds cover star supported from the sidelines. He attended the star-studded Fanatics Super Bowl Party in San Francisco alongside celebrities like Jon Hamm and Becky G, and was spotted at the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show Celebration at Apple Union Square on February 6, mingling with Diplo, Travis Scott, and others.
The decision carried extra weight given Balvin and Bad Bunny’s shared history at Super Bowl LIV in 2020, when they both appeared alongside Shakira and Jennifer Lopez during the Miami halftime show. That performance marked a breakthrough moment for Latin urban music on football’s biggest stage, with the duo delivering “Qué Calor” and “I Like It” to a global audience.
Six years later, the tables had turned. Bad Bunny was headlining, the first solo Latino artist to do so, with guests like Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin supporting his vision.
Balvin’s decision to support rather than share the stage came just months after the pair publicly reconciled. In December 2025, Balvin surprised fans by joining Bad Bunny onstage in Mexico City during his DtMF Tour, where they performed their classic hits together for the first time in years. The reunion put to rest rumors of a rift that had simmered since indirect disses and Balvin’s public feud with Residente.
That Mexico City performance signaled the friendship was intact, but Balvin’s Super Bowl stance showed genuine admiration and a willingness to step back when the moment called for it.
The bond between J Balvin and Bad Bunny runs deep. Since meeting in 2016 through producer Luian, they’ve built one of reggaeton’s most successful partnerships. Their collaborations include chart-toppers like “I Like It” with Cardi B (their first Billboard Hot 100 No. 1), the joint album Oasis in 2019 (which dominated Latin charts), and memorable live moments from Coachella to the Latin Grammys.
Together, they helped push Latin urban music into the global mainstream. But on Super Bowl Sunday 2026, Balvin understood that sometimes the best way to support a partner is to let them stand alone.
Bad Bunny’s halftime show became a defining cultural moment, watched by millions worldwide as he showcased the evolution and power of Latin music and community. And somewhere in the Bay Area, J Balvin was watching too, proud, supportive, and content to let his friend have his night.
Sometimes the most powerful move is knowing when not to take the stage.
