Halftime Show Emmy Record
Bad Bunny's Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Earns Record Nine Emmy Nominations
Key Points
Bad Bunny's Super Bowl LX halftime show drew an average of 128.2 million viewers on NBC and 4.8 million viewers on Telemundo, making it the most-watched SB halftime via both networks and setting YouTube's 24-hour viewership record for a SB halftime clip.
The broadcast featured Ricky Martin and Lady Gaga as guests; Gaga’s 2017 SB halftime performance had previously set the record for the most nominations (six) in that category.
In the Emmy nomination, Bad Bunny is listed as a producer under his birth name Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio for Outstanding Variety Special (Live), highlighting EGOT-trajectory progress alongside his performer nomination.
Taylor Swift is nominated in a separate category—Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-recorded)—for Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The Final Show, illustrating cross-category momentum in the broader Emmy race.
Mariska Hargitay will host the 78th Primetime Emmys, becoming the first woman to host the ceremony in 15 years, with the event set for September 14 and Creative Arts Emmys scheduled earlier in the season.
Bad Bunny's Super Bowl LX halftime show has made Emmy history, earning nine nominations — more than any Super Bowl halftime performance ever. Mahoning Matters reported the February show averaged 128.2 million viewers on NBC and 4.8 million on Telemundo, and set YouTube's 24-hour viewership record for a Super Bowl halftime clip.
The previous record was six nominations, set by Lady Gaga's 2017 Super Bowl halftime show. Gaga appeared as a guest in Bad Bunny's performance, making her part of the show that broke her own record.
Nine Nominations Span Every Corner of the Broadcast
The nominations cover a wide range of categories. Bad Bunny is up for Outstanding Variety Special (Live), the top prize for a live show. The show also earned nods for directing, production design, lighting, camerawork, and sound. That breadth shows how the entire production — not just the performance — impressed Emmy voters.
Notably, Bad Bunny is listed as a producer under his birth name, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio. That producer credit matters. It puts him on a path toward EGOT status — winning a Grammy, Oscar, Tony, and Emmy. He already has Grammys. An Emmy win in September could mark a big step forward.
Puerto Rican Culture Took Center Stage in February
The halftime show was a celebration of Puerto Rican identity. Bad Bunny performed in Spanish throughout, and guests included Ricky Martin, one of Puerto Rico's biggest music stars. The show drew praise for putting a culture rarely seen on the Super Bowl stage into its biggest spotlight.
That visibility also sparked backlash. Republican and MAGA-aligned critics objected to a Spanish-language artist headlining a major American event. The culture-war tension around the show only added to its reach. The nine Emmy nominations now serve as a formal answer to that criticism.
Taylor Swift Also Nominated as Emmy Race Takes Shape
Bad Bunny is not the only music star in this Emmy race. Taylor Swift earned a nomination for Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-recorded) for Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The Final Show. Swift is also credited as a producer on the film, with nominations spanning directing, editing, and sound.
The two nominations show how the Emmys are expanding their view of music programming. Live concerts and filmed concert movies are both getting serious recognition. That is a shift from years past, when music performances rarely competed for top Emmy prizes.
78th Emmy Awards Set for September 14 with Historic Host
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards will air on September 14. Mariska Hargitay will host — making her the first woman to host the ceremony in 15 years. The Creative Arts Emmys, which cover technical categories, will take place earlier in the season. That is where many of Bad Bunny's nine nominations will be decided.
Whether Bad Bunny wins or not, the record nine nominations already mark a turning point. A Spanish-language, Puerto Rican-led Super Bowl performance has earned more Emmy recognition than any halftime show in history. The 78th Emmy season will be one to watch.
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