Mike Johnson Criticises Bad Bunny Super Bowl Slot, Suggests 1980s Country Singer as Alternative

House Speaker Mike Johnson has criticised the NFL’s choice of Bad Bunny as the headliner for next year’s Super Bowl halftime show, calling it a “terrible decision.”

Speaking to reporters on October 7, Johnson admitted he “didn’t even know who Bad Bunny was” and questioned the artist’s appeal to “a broader audience.”

Johnson’s remarks come as the U.S. House remains adjourned amid a federal government shutdown. The Republican leader suggested that 82-year-old country singer Lee Greenwood would be a more suitable performer, describing him as a “role model.”

Greenwood, known for his 1984 anthem “God Bless the U.S.A.,” last released an album in 2003 and recently performed at the 2024 Republican National Convention and a memorial event in September 2025.

Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is one of the most successful global artists of the century. He was the first Latin artist to achieve 100 Billboard Hot 100 songs and released the first all-Spanish album to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

His 2022 album Un Verano Sin Ti remains the most-streamed album in Spotify’s history, and he held the platform’s top global artist spot for three consecutive years.

Former President Donald Trump also criticised the decision, claiming he had “never heard of” the performer and calling the booking “crazy.”

Trump and Johnson’s comments align with several conservative commentators who have questioned the NFL’s choice, with some suggesting the artist’s Spanish-language songs might not appeal to all viewers.

Bad Bunny recently addressed the criticism during his Saturday Night Live appearance, joking that audiences had “four months to learn Spanish” before the Super Bowl performance in February 2026.