Shakira's inclusion in the halftime show is not surprising as she is managed by Jay-Z's Roc NationGETTY IMAGES
Jennifer Lopez and Shakira will headline the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show at Hard Rock Stadium, and the "booking of two Latinx performers ties in well" with the host city of Miami, according to Will Thorne of VARIETY. Although Lopez is originally from the Bronx and Shakira from Colombia, Miami is "widely recognized as the global capital of the Latin music business." The booking also "bears the fingerprints of Jay-Z," as it comes on the heels of the NFL-Roc Nation partnership announced last month that "encompasses entertainment -- including the Super Bowl halftime show." The rapper was "likely instrumental in bringing Lopez and Shakira to the stage" in '20, especially seeing that Shakira is "managed by Roc Nation" (VARIETY.com, 9/26). ABC's Chris Connelly said Jay-Z is "eager for halftime performers to connect with host city citizens" ("GMA," ABC, 9/27). The only previous Latin performers "to take the Super Bowl halftime stage" were Gloria Estefan (in '92, '95 and '99) and Enrique Iglesias "alongside a slew of other artists" in '00 (BILLBOARD.com, 9/26).
STAR LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT: In N.Y., Belson & Jacobs write Lopez "gives the NFL the star power it craves at the Super Bowl" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/27). NBC's Lester Holt: "When it comes to star power, it doesn't get much bigger than this" ("Nightly News," NBC, 9/26). In Michigan, Edward Pevos: "Talk about star power" (MLIVE.com, 9/26). In Miami, Madeleine Marr: "Holy hell, that's hot" (MIAMI HERALD, 9/27). THE RINGER's Rob Harvilla: "This is probably going to kick ass" (THERINGER.com, 9/26).
