A Change.org petition started by Texas resident Kar Shell is urging organizers to replace Bad Bunny with country legend George Strait as the halftime performer for Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. As of this report the petition had amassed more than 54,000 signatures.

The petition argues that George Strait — often called the “King of Country” — would pay tribute to American musical traditions and provide a family-friendly halftime experience. It emphasizes the Super Bowl halftime as one of television’s most-watched musical stages and frames Strait’s straightforward, heartfelt performances as an opportunity to unite viewers nationwide.

Shell’s statement clarifies that the campaign is meant to steer the halftime presentation back toward broad-appeal entertainment rather than provocative or adult-oriented theatrics. The petition calls on the NFL and halftime producers Roc Nation — Jay-Z’s entertainment company — to select artists who deliver “talent, energy and good music” without relying on shock value.

In addition to concerns about tone, the petition stresses keeping political messages out of the halftime slot so the game can remain an inclusive event for audiences of varied backgrounds and beliefs. It references a recent Saturday Night Live appearance in which Bad Bunny jokingly suggested the set would be performed entirely in Spanish, noting the petitioner’s view that music should bridge cultural differences rather than accentuate them.

The petition also argues that country music has been underrepresented on the Super Bowl stage and dismisses assertions that Strait is “too old” or unsuitable. It names other possible country-era or crossover performers — including Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs, Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney and Dolly Parton — as alternatives should organizers seek a roots-oriented halftime.

While a six-figure petition has swayed some high-profile causes, it’s worth noting that other online campaigns have gathered substantially larger support in short timeframes; for instance, recent humanitarian and entertainment petitions have reached hundreds of thousands to millions of signatures within weeks.

Despite the petition’s stated focus on music, reactions to Bad Bunny’s booking have become politically charged. Several conservative commentators and figures have criticized the selection. Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski made inflammatory remarks suggesting immigration enforcement should be present at the game, and former President Donald Trump disparaged the artist in interviews. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson also denounced the choice earlier this month.

In response to the controversy, the right-leaning group Turning Point USA — founded by Charlie Kirk — announced plans for an alternate “All American Halftime Show” that it describes as celebrating “faith, family and freedom” and featuring performers who sing “anything in English,” though no lineup had been announced at press time.

Supporters of Bad Bunny have pushed back against the criticism. Several prominent artists, including Jennifer Lopez and Carlos Santana, along with country performer Shaboozey, publicly praised the decision, calling Bad Bunny a global superstar and reminding critics that he is also an American citizen.

Bad Bunny’s commercial achievements include being the first Latin artist to chart 100 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 and scoring the first all-Spanish album to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 2020’s El Último Tour del Mundo. He has also matched the most No. 1s on the Billboard Global 200 among solo acts, a mark shared with Taylor Swift.

Super Bowl LX is scheduled to air on February 8, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on NBC and Telemundo, with streaming available on Peacock and NFL+.

Read or sign the petition on Change.org