Kid Rock to Headline Conservative Counter-Programming During Super Bowl LXI
A conservative alternative to the Super Bowl LXI halftime show featuring Bad Bunny is taking shape, with Kid Rock set to headline “The All-American Halftime Show” alongside Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett. The event, organized by Turning Point USA, aims to provide an alternative for viewers planning to boycott the NFL’s main performance on February 8, 2026.
The move comes as Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny prepares to take the stage during the Seattle Seahawks-New England Patriots game, having recently earned Album of the Year at the Grammys. However, a segment of the audience, particularly those with conservative viewpoints, have expressed their intention to tune out the NFL’s halftime show.
Turning Point USA, founded in 2012 by Charlie Kirk and now led by his widow, Erika Kirk, is responding to this sentiment with its own musical offering. “The All-American Halftime Show” will launch around 8 PM, coinciding with Bad Bunny’s performance. The event will be streamed across Turning Point USA’s social media platforms, as well as broadcast on Daily Wire+, Real America’s Voice, and One America News Network.
The announcement has been met with significant criticism online. One social media user described the lineup as “embarrassing,” while another quipped they “would be hard pressed to come up with a worse list.” A third observer simply stated it was “must miss TV.”
Kid Rock, whose real name is Robert James Ritchie, is a well-known supporter of former President Donald Trump. He framed the competing performance as a celebration of “faith, family and freedom,” contrasting it with Bad Bunny’s planned show. “[Bad Bunny] said he’s having a dance party, wearing a dress, and singing in Spanish? Cool,” the “Bawitdaba” singer stated. “We plan to play great songs for folks who love America.”
He acknowledged the challenge of competing with the NFL’s massive platform, stating, “We’re approaching this show like David and Goliath. Competing with the pro football machine and a global pop superstar is almost impossible…or is it?”
The scale of the challenge is considerable. Last year, over 130 million people watched Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show, even amidst calls for a boycott from conservative groups. One critic on social media sarcastically suggested canceling the Super Bowl altogether, questioning how it could compete with Kid Rock’s lineup. Another commented that creating a “pity event” was a sad reflection of the artists’ prospects.
The Super Bowl LXI will be held at Levi’s Stadium in California on February 8, 2026.
