EXCLUSIVE: Behind the Scenes of Bad Bunny's Halftime Show with Milanna Morgan

After watching Bad Bunny put on one of the most creative Super Bowl Halftime shows in recent memory, I set out to find someone on the league side who helped make the chaos look effortless. Enter: Milanna Morgan.

Milanna Morgan is on the Music & Entertainment team at the NFL, working across artist relations, musical performances, and talent booking for the league’s biggest tentpole events.

She serves as the day-to-day operations lead for the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Super Bowl Halftime shows, acting as the connective “glue” between creative, operational, and production teams to keep every stakeholder aligned and every detail cleared. from stage and broadcast standards to talent experience from booking through performance.

Our conversation is below:

AvA: Beyond the metrics, why was Bad Bunny the obvious choice to headline the Super Bowl Halftime show?

Morgan: Beyond the metrics, Bad Bunny represents a cultural moment that is global, influential, and undeniable. The Halftime Show is about capturing where music, sports, and culture connect, and he was able to embody that intersection in a way few artists can. His ability to translate identity, storytelling, and joy to millions of viewers made him the obvious choice.

AvA: Bad Bunny’s performance was cinematic and story-driven. What does the creative process actually look like behind the scenes from that first meeting to game day?

Morgan: It starts with the artist and the story that they want to tell. From there, they will work with our art and production partners to bring that vision to life through stages, props, choreography, and design, translating the concept into something tangible on the field. That’s where I step in, securing clearances and approvals for all creative elements, and it’s incredible to watch these creative elements come to life each year.

AvA: The 7 minute changeover was one of the most impressive aspects of the whole production. Talk us through some "field reality" hurdles and the process of turning the field from football to concert and back.

Morgan: This year’s stadium had a grass field and an open roof, making the surface much more sensitive than turf and vulnerable to weather conditions. Since the stadium didn’t have a roof, we also couldn’t rig audio or anything that would help remove some of the weight from the field, so we had to develop a complex halftime plan that protected the grass. The team rehearsed for weeks, practicing cart builds and movement patterns while working closely with our Event Operations team and production partners to ensure every stage piece, cast member, and talent move was in sync with everything happening in the stadium. This group was able to protect the field for the players and execute a run‑on time in just 7 minutes. I am incredibly proud of how the team delivered one of the biggest shows to date.’

AvA: How many people would you estimate it takes to put on the Super Bowl Halftime show every year? Any other key "behind the scenes" stats you can share? 

Morgan: I would say it takes around 2,500+ individuals to put on the Super Bowl Halftime Show each year. This year, there were more than 2,000 people involved across cast and crew alone, not including the broader teams supporting broadcast, marketing, sponsorship, events, and other logistics. Of that group, around 1,200 were on the field, including talent, grass extras, dancers, musicians, and field team members. It takes a lot of people to execute this 13-minute show seen by 124.9 million viewers worldwide.

AvA: We have a ton of young readers who are looking to get ahead in their roles. What separates the people who rise fast in this business from the people who stay stuck? 

Morgan: Ownership, composure, curiosity, and grit. The people who rise to the top anticipate needs before they are spoken, stay calm under pressure, ask thoughtful questions, own mistakes, and are willing to work beyond what’s just required. For live events, trust, hard work, and consistency matter just as much as talent.

AvA: When do you start building the shortlist for next year, and what does the selection process like? 

Morgan: The conversation never really stops. Roc Nation and the NFL are constantly tracking who can deliver a moment that feels global and timeless, and they decide based off a variety of factors (popularity, cultural relevance, etc.). We fully trust our partners at Roc Nation, with our NFL leadership working closely each year to make the right decision.

AvA: Who was on your Spotify Wrapped last year?

Morgan: Kendrick Lamar, Doechii, Beyonce, Maxwell, and Musiq Soulchild were in my Spotify Wrapped last year!

👋 See you back here tomorrow when we sit down with a real life Andy Sachs

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