Kid Rock’s “All American” Halftime Show: A Right-Wing Response to Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Debut
A conservative alternative to the Super Bowl halftime show, headlined by Kid Rock and organized by Turning Point USA (TPUSA), aired Sunday as a direct counter-programming effort to Bad Bunny’s historic performance. The event, steeped in patriotic fervor and religious undertones, underscored the ongoing cultural and political divisions surrounding the NFL’s embrace of a more diverse lineup of performers.
A “Real American” Alternative
The TPUSA-promoted concert, dubbed the “All American” Halftime Show, featured performances from Kid Rock alongside Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett. According to reports, the nearly half-hour show opened with a Jimi Hendrix-inspired rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” before Gilbert took the stage, declaring “this is real America” while launching into his song “Real American.” The performance, as one observer noted, lacked subtlety, leaning heavily into what many would describe as jingoism.
Commemoration and Controversy
The event wasn’t solely focused on musical performance. Lee Brice used his stage time to pay tribute to Charlie Kirk, the co-founder of TPUSA, stating that Kirk “gave people microphones so they could say what’s on their mind, this is what’s on mine.” Brice then performed “Country Nowadays,” a song containing lyrics that touch on contemporary social issues, including lines like “little boys ain’t little girls” and the challenges of maintaining “small-town views” in modern America. The show concluded with a commemoration of Kirk, featuring previous quotes and video clips of him with family and supporters.
A Stark Contrast in Popularity
While TPUSA positioned the event as a “David and Goliath” challenge to the NFL and Bad Bunny, the viewership numbers revealed a significant disparity. Bad Bunny boasts 90.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify, compared to Kid Rock’s 5.3 million. Despite this, the TPUSA livestream peaked at nearly 5 million viewers. The organization was forced to rely on YouTube for the broadcast after failing to secure licensing for X (formerly Twitter).
Backlash and Representation
The creation of this alternative show stemmed from significant right-wing backlash following the NFL’s announcement of Bad Bunny as this year’s halftime performer. Critics, including former President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, voiced their disapproval of the booking, which marked the first Spanish-language performance in Super Bowl history. Bad Bunny, a Puerto Rican-born American citizen, represents the NFL’s attempt to broaden its audience reach.
A Message of Unity from Bad Bunny
In contrast to the politically charged atmosphere surrounding the TPUSA event, Bad Bunny delivered a message of inclusivity and love during his performance and in recent public statements. “We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens, we are humans and we are Americans,” he said last week. “The hate gets more powerful with more hate. The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love.” He further emphasized the importance of responding to negativity with compassion and unity.
The “All American” Halftime Show served as a clear demonstration of the cultural and political fault lines that continue to shape the American landscape, highlighting the contrasting visions for representation and inclusivity within a major cultural event like the Super Bowl.
