J.Lo & Shakira Made History With a Halftime Show About Latinx Pride & Resistance

As promised, Shakira and Jennifer Lopez brought their A-game during last night’s Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show. These phenomenal Latinas knocked down the legacy of the Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show with a historical performance that included all-Latinx artists. In the era of Trump, that is major. As Time magazine points out, Shakira and J.Lo are the “first Latin artists to co-headline America’s most-watched annual event, and the first pair of female artists to share top billing!

But first, we must bow down to the queens because while we knew it would be entertaining, we had no idea it would be like this. And, by this, I mean their performance was show-stopping, hot as hell, and full of Latinx pride. The show also touched on some pressing political issues that are affecting the Latinx community and also featured some beautiful surprises. 

So, let’s get into it!

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J.Lo wears the Puerto Rico flag. 

https://twitter.com/ACThePlug/status/1224145026810372096

This moment was everything! J.Lo put Puerto Rico on the forefront for countless people watching the show. With all the travesties the people of Puerto Rico have faced in the past two years (and since their colonization for that matter), it was beautiful to see Lopez wearing a coat that had the Puerto Rico flag on one side and the U.S. flag on the other. What made this moment so stunning is hearing J.Lo’s daughter singing Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA.”

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J.Lo brings out her 11-year-old daughter, Emme. 

Emme Daddy is so proud of you. You are my ❤ and I am forever yours. pic.twitter.com/GLhmZOneBv

— Marc Anthony (@MarcAnthony) February 3, 2020

Speaking of Emme. We were floored to see her come out on stage, singing along with her mother. We knew she could sing, but we had no idea she was Superbowl ready. People are saying she stole the show, and we agree. She’s got her mother’s talent and we cannot wait to see what she does next.

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Shakira’s performance includes traditional Colombian dance.

Champeta itself is Colombian, Soukous,the music’s main influencer is from Congo. The overall dance style is what the mixed culture of Colombia’s Atlantic Coast did with Soukous & other rhythms that reached its shores. (👇🏽Thread) https://t.co/exmRcfsP1s

— ile La Serrana (@ile_laSerrana) February 3, 2020

Her hips don’t lie and neither does her step work. Shakira performed the champeta — a Colombia dance step and left us with our jaws on the floor. Shakira posted on Instagram more about this dance and her dance teacher. “Meet @diazlizdany an incredible young dancer from my hometown of Barranquilla. I discovered Liz dancing champeta — a Colombian favorite — on @instagram and brought her out to work together on a part of the choreography for my #HalftimeShow! She’s only 18, but she takes care of her family and works so hard, and she brings so much joy. I’m proud to be able to share this stage today with a fellow Barranquillera, and to show this infectious dance from our hometown to the world.”

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Kobe Bryant remembered.

During the opening of J.Lo’s “Let’s Get Loud,” the camera panned from up above and captured a gold and purple cross to in honor of the late Kobe Bryant. Before the Super Bowl game, the former NBA player and his daughter were also remembered with a tribute.

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Shakira brings out Bad Bunny. 

When Jlo, Shakira, Bad Bunny AND J Balvin storm into the #SuperBowl with an ‘Hola Miami’… and a huge Puero Rican flag in the backdrop, there should be no doubt that Latinos are ready to make their voices heard.

Can someone send our politicians the memo por favor? pic.twitter.com/Z26yBcWb0R

— Mariana Atencio (@marianaatencio) February 3, 2020

We did not expect Bad Bunny coming out at all. But we were so glad he did! He was on fire with his all-silver suit. Yes, some people on social media said he looked like the tin man from the Wizard of Oz. So what?!

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J.Lo performs with J Balvin. 

When ur watching the super bowl and they drop my remix of mi gente during @jlo x @jbalvin performance!! Grateful!! 🙏🙏🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/ViK3Q5f2L4

— Steve Aoki (@steveaoki) February 3, 2020

Another big surprise, J Balvin! Can we just say the fact that Shakira performed with a Puerto Rican and J.Lo performed with a Colombian is a full circle of glory?

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Emme brings attention to family separation at the border. 

This was the defining moment of the Super Bowl.

The statement JLo and Shakira made by having the kids singing from these cages was immense. pic.twitter.com/VXZeEhmRug

— Read Let This Radicalize You (@JoshuaPHilll) February 3, 2020

This beautiful moment where Emme first comes out while singing in a lit cage was touching on so many levels. Oh hey, clueless President Donald Trump, who was at the game, did you see this, or were you in the bathroom at the time?

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J.Lo brings Hustlers to the Super Bowl. 

Hustlers bombed at the box office but JLo ain’t about to let those pole moves go to waste. #SuperBowlHalftimeShow pic.twitter.com/jZgcvYxCfk

— Bianca Santos (@BiancaOSantos) February 3, 2020

Um, pole dancing at the Super Bowl? Yes, please! We loved seeing J.Lo performing a move from her Hustlers movie. Perhaps the inclusion of this number was also a subtle clap-back to her Oscar snub. By the way, the Academy Awards are taking place next week! So yeah, take that Acadamy!

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Shakira shows off versatility.

Emme singing and Shakira at the drums pls 🥺 #PepsiHalftime pic.twitter.com/KLYlydo7pi

— ms. kiki (@dinahjeed) February 3, 2020

We know the woman can sing, she can definitely dance, but we saw Shakira do some things we’d never seen. Yes, we have seen her play the guitar, but last night she was also playing the drums. Damn, girl! She can do it all!

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Age ain’t nothing but a number.

Shakira, 43, and JLo, 50, only reminding me my ass ain’t shaking or working hard enough. #HalftimeShow pic.twitter.com/tZ3IuQ5tUk

— 🖤 (@deletingsoun) February 3, 2020

Can we just say we loved seeing two grown women (over the age of 40) performing on stage and killing it! This incredible performance by two women — Shakira is 43 and J.Lo is 50 — was so refreshing to see versus a tween singer shaking her butt. We love real women doing their thing.

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J.Lo and Shakira unite to close the show. 

https://twitter.com/ShakiraAustral1/status/1224220399623258113

There was so much hype to this show and it lived up to it in so many ways. But we were so happy to see the unification of Shakira and J.Lo after so many people tried to pin these two Latinas against each other. They proved that they can share top billing and not be all divas about it. This moment showed what unity looks like, regardless of fame.

If you didn’t catch the show, here it is in its entirety.