Let’s be honest here, there are only two reasons why 100+ million people tune in to watch the Super Bowl: the crazy ads and the big name music acts performing at the halftime show.
For the 2020 event, we’re getting what may be one of the greatest halftime show headlining acts in Super Bowl history: Jennifer Lopez and Shakira.
The pair made the announcement with a series of teasing, slow-burn tweets and Instagram posts before culminating in a winning shot of J-Lo and Shakira (and a massive Pepsi logo because they’re the halftime show’s main sponsor).
Words can’t do justice just how big of a deal it is. The last two Super Bowl halftime shows – Maroon 5 in 2019 and Justin Timberlake in 2018 – didn’t exactly set the world alight and there’s no doubt J-Lo and Shakira will put on a hell of a better show, especially since they actually seem super stoked to be there.
But more importantly than wiping the floor with Maroon 5 and Justin Timberlake, J-Lo and Shakira represent a big representation win for women and the Latin American community.
There have only been two Latin performers – Gloria Estefan and Enrique Iglesias – to take the Super Bowl halftime show when it became a thing in the 60s, making J-Lo and Shakira’s headlining act pretty historic. In just one show, the number of Latin performers will double.
While there have been female artists – like Lady Gaga and Beyoncé – who have headlined the Super Bowl halftime show, there has never been two massive female performers like J-Lo and Shakira sharing the stage as co-headlining acts.
All in all, the 2020 halftime show is shaping up to not only be an epic romp but also a huge representation victory that will hopefully open the door for more diverse artists.
Oh, there’s a possibility Pitbull may rock up for a cameo since the 2020 Super Bowl will take place at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go listen to ‘On the Floor’ and ‘Loba’ back-to-back on repeat as preparation for the J-Lo and Shakira extravaganza (aka the 2020 Super Bowl).