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Jennifer Hudson Defends Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Performance: “Music Has No Borders”

Oscar and Grammy-winning artist Jennifer Hudson has ignited a powerful conversation about inclusivity and artistic freedom in music, standing firmly against critics who argue that non-English songs should be excluded from the Super Bowl stage.

The debate gained traction after Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny was announced as a performer for the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show. While his global influence is undeniable—he was Spotify’s most-streamed artist for three consecutive years—some social media users voiced discontent, insisting the NFL should “stick to English songs” for its marquee event.

Hudson, known for her soaring vocals and emotional depth, was quick to challenge this narrow view. “When did we stop enjoying music for what it is—pure joy?” she said during a recent interview on The Jennifer Hudson Show. “Why should it be forbidden to sing in another language? That kind of extreme thinking needs to be eliminated.”

Music That Transcends Language

Hudson emphasized that music is a universal language, capable of bridging cultures and emotions. “You don’t need to understand every lyric to feel a song,” she explained. “When Whitney sang, when Aretha sang, when Bad Bunny performs—you feel it. That’s what music’s supposed to do.”

Her comments echo sentiments shared by other artists and cultural commentators. In a recent Rolling Stone feature, Latin music historian Leila Cobo noted, “Bad Bunny’s presence on the Super Bowl stage is not just entertainment—it’s a statement about the global reach of Latin music and the importance of cultural representation” (Rolling Stone, 2025).

A Global Stage Demands Global Voices

Hudson also pointed out that the Super Bowl is no longer just an American event—it’s a global spectacle watched by over 100 million viewers worldwide. “The world doesn’t just speak English,” she said. “Music is the one thing that unites us all. Why would we put limits on that?”

Her stance was reinforced by data from the IFPI Global Music Report, which shows that Latin music is one of the fastest-growing genres globally, with a 26% increase in streaming volume in 2024 alone (IFPI, 2025).

Personal Experience and Artistic Solidarity

Reflecting on her own international career, Hudson shared, “I’ve stood on stages in places where no one spoke my language—and still, we connected. That’s the power of music. It’s universal.”

Her message resonated across social media, with fans and fellow artists applauding her for defending artistic freedom and cultural diversity. One fan tweeted, “Jennifer Hudson standing up for Bad Bunny is the kind of allyship we need in music.” Another wrote, “Music should be about connection, not exclusion.”

Creativity Over Conformity

Hudson concluded with a powerful reminder: “If we start telling people what language they can sing in, we’re not protecting tradition. We’re destroying creativity. Music has no borders, and neither should the Super Bowl.”

Her words have sparked a broader conversation about what it means to celebrate music on a global stage. As Bad Bunny prepares to bring Latin music to the halftime spotlight, Hudson’s support underscores a fundamental truth: the soul of music lies not in the language it’s sung in, but in the emotion it evokes.

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