‘Maybe Let Me Do 20 Seconds’: Jelly Roll Says the Quiet Part Out Loud on Bad Bunny and the Super Bowl

Jelly Roll did not dodge the Super Bowl halftime show debate. He walked straight into it. Fresh off winning Best Contemporary Country Album at the 2026 Grammys, the singer publicly told the NFL what he believes it should have done differently amid backlash surrounding Bad Bunny’s upcoming performance.Speaking on the red carpet in Los Angeles, Jelly Roll tied his pitch to Nashville’s future as a Super Bowl host and made it clear he sees country music as a better reflection of the league’s core audience. His comments come as criticism of the 2026 halftime show continues to escalate across political and cultural lines.Jelly Roll said the Super Bowl could soon be headed to Nashville once the Tennessee Titans’ new $2.1 billion stadium is complete. He framed that possibility as the right moment for the NFL to rethink its halftime strategy.Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, the 41-year-old said, “The Super Bowl could possibly come to Nashville in the next three to five years. We are getting a new stadium and I have a dream that they do a country music-themed halftime show. Maybe they just let me do a little 20 or 30 seconds in it.”Jelly Roll outlined a lineup that blended country legends with modern stars. “I want to see Tim McGraw, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton,” he said. “I would love to see the country legends with the new dogs, like Morgan Wallen. That’s my dream. Something that involved the whole community.” His pitch landed as many fans continue to question whether the NFL misjudged the reaction to naming Bad Bunny as the 2026 headliner.The NFL announced Bad Bunny as the halftime performer in late September. The response was immediate and intense. Several high-ranking political figures criticized the decision, pointing to the artist’s past remarks about U.S. immigration policy and ICE.Former President Donald Trump later confirmed he would not attend the game because of the selection. A Change.org petition calling for country legend George Strait to replace Bad Bunny has since drawn more than 122,000 signatures. The petition describes the halftime show as a celebration of “the cultural tapestry of America,” arguing that recent performances have leaned away from that idea.Bad Bunny added fuel to the controversy during the Grammys on Feb. 1. After accepting an award, he said, “Before I say thanks to god, I’m going to say, ICE Out.” He followed with, “We are not savage. We are not animals. We are not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans.”The NFL has not commented publicly on Jelly Roll’s remarks or the renewed backlash. Bad Bunny remains scheduled to perform at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday night.