Super Bowl LX isn’t until February, but drama continues to percolate surrounding the big game’s musical performers.
On Sunday, the NFL announced additional Super Bowl LX performances by Charlie Puth, Brandi Carlile, and Coco Jones, following the announcement of Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny as halftime show performer in September that brought some backlash over the artist’s political stances.
“Charlie, Brandi, and Coco are generational talents, and we are honored to have them – alongside our extraordinary deaf performers – on Super Bowl LX’s world stage,” Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez said in a press release. “This moment embodies the very best of culture, live performance, and our country, perfectly kicking off game day.”
Puth, an esteemed singer and producer, was tapped to perform the National Anthem.
Puth Pushback
Following the announcement, content creator and former Robert F. Kennedy Jr. aide Link Lauren criticized the decision to include Puth.
“Man we’ve fallen from when Whitney Houston sang at the Super Bowl. Charlie Puth? He’s not gonna give us vocals I’m afraid,” he wrote to X.
Houston famously gave a rousing rendition of the “The Star Spangled Banner” ahead of Super Bowl XXV in 1991.
Puth’s Promise
The following day, Puth responded to the backlash on X, acknowledging his vocals were not as impressive as the late Houston’s, but that he’d still give the performance his all.
“I’ll never claim to be as good of a singer as Whitney Houston ever was,” he wrote. “But I assure you we’re putting a really special arrangement together- in D major. It’ll be one of my best vocal performances.”
I’ll never claim to be as good of a singer as Whitney Houston ever was. But I assure you we’re putting a really special arrangement together- in D major. It’ll be one of my best vocal performances. https://t.co/N4POfitxhb
— Charlie Puth (@charlieputh) December 1, 2025
Continued Controversy
Backlash surrounding the Puth selection comes several months after initial upheaval regarding the coveted halftime show performance announcement.
Fans and public figures alike have expressed mixed feelings about rapper Bad Bunny being selected as the halftime show performer.
In October, the musician poked fun at the controversy during his monologue on Saturday Night Live.
Super Bowl LX will be held at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on Sunday, February 8.
