Jennifer Lopez, Shakira bring jolt of energy and star power to Sunday's Super Bowl halftime show
Jennifer Lopez and Shakira perform during the halftime show.
Two of the hottest names in music teamed up to deliver a mind-blowing, rocking gig that sent thousands of their fans into a tizzy. Ultra-sultry sirens Jennifer Lopez and Colombian Shakira have been known for their provocative outfits and sensual moves in catchy humdingers that fire the imagination of their devotees. And in Sunday's Super Bowl halftime show they did not disappoint either: the duo grabbed a zillion eyeballs when they set the stage – and the crowds – afire with an incredible performance.
The show became one of the world's glitziest stages delivering hip-shaking choreography and a medley of hits by the duo .
Shakira hugs J-Lo during the gig.
The 12-minute halftime show, along with commercials, has become a popular feature of the Super Bowl spectacle on par with the game itself, which draws some 100 million television viewers in the United States.
Dressed in a sequinned, ruby-red outfit with matching boots, Shakira led her team of dancers through snippets of hits such as "Whenever, Wherever" and "Hips Don't Lie" before giving way to J-Lo.
Lopez made her entrance in black leather and studs on a stage set resembling the top of the Empire State Building, as "Jenny from the Block" proudly announced she was from Bronx, New York.
Jennifer Lopez and Shakira lit up the stage with an incredible performance.
Latin artists Bad Bunny and J Balvin appeared as surprise guests in the extravaganza, which signalled its Latin American influences from the onset, when Shakira greeted the stadium audience in Spanish with "Hola, Miami."
As her set progressed, J-Lo changed in a wink into a lacy body suit, unfurling a rectangular boa with the US flag on one side and the Puerto Rican flag on the other.
It was a subtle reminder that Puerto Ricans – hit by a Category 5 hurricane in 2017 and more recently set back by a series of earthquakes – are Americans, too.
J-Lo wore a lacy body suit, unfurling a rectangular boa with the US flag on one side and Puerto Rican flag on the other.
She then strutted to "On the Floor," a 2011 hit, and "Let's Get Loud," a track from her debut 1999 album, featuring a girls' choir.
Shakira, 43, who is from Barranquilla, Colombia, in building up the show she let it be known she sympathized with Latinos in the United States, where anti-immigration rhetoric has become more open in recent years.
"Latinos are going through a difficult time in the US right now, and I think it's very important for us to convey a message of unity and also to show what a relevant force the Latin community is in this country," Shakira told reporters on Thursday.
Dressed in a sequinned, ruby-red outfit with matching boots, Shakira led her team of dancers through snippets of hits.
This year's Super Bowl broke ground for women in high places, including in the ownership of both teams (Denise York of the 49ers and Norma Hunt of the Chiefs), and on the sidelines, where San Francisco's offensive assistant Katie Sowers became the first woman to coach in a Super Bowl.
"That statement alone is empowering," Lopez told reporters on Thursday, referring to the women owners and halftime headliners.
