Punters have been reacting in the last two days to Kid Rock’s alternative Super Bowl halftime performance, hosted by American conservative organisation Turning Point (TPUSA) in protest at the headline slot for the prestigious performance being given to the Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny.
The ‘All-American Half Time Show’ was intended to be a more ‘family friendly’ half-time show, aimed at a pro-Trump audience. Criticism of Bad Bunny came as a result of his historic sympathy for migrant communities, given the current state of ICE raids representing an increasingly tough policy on migration into the U.S. The show lasted around thirty minutes, and ended with the rap-rock-turned-country singer performing a cover of the Cody Johnson’s “‘Til You Can’t”, before a broadcasting of a tribute to TPUSA’s founder, conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was killed last year during a public event in Ohio. According to the Athletic, the TPUSA half-time show brought in just over six million viewers, while the official show’s statistic is intended to be much higher, given that, last year, Kendrick Lamar’s performance garnered one hundred and thirty three million.
The show’s broadcast was accompanied with a video message from the U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, declaring that we “salute Turning Point USA and everyone who believes freedom is still worth the fight”. The U.S. Administration itself, while not officially endorsing the TPUSA half-time show, has spoken against the choice of Bad Bunny. President Trump posted on Truth Social that “the Super Bowl Halftime Show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER!” Trump also stated that “nobody understands a word this guy is saying”, in reference to the fact that Bad Bunny sings in his native Spanish.
Online reactions to Kid Rock’s performance were divided, with some MAGA loyalists embracing the performance, while others either mocked the performance or, in some cases, accused Rock of lip-syncing. Kid Rock, 55, whose sound straddles rock, nu-metal, country and hip-hop, has long been an outspoken supporter of Trump and celebrity ambassador for the conservative movement. In 2024, he performed at the Republican National Convention, dedicating his 2000 single “American Bad Ass” to Trump, with lyrics to show his public support for the President.
Since the broadcast, the travelling festival led by Kid Rock, Rock the Country, has come under scrutiny, with two bands, Shinedown and Creed, refusing to play, and the festival cancelling its Anderson, South Carolina date. Shinedown said in a subsequent statement that “our band’s purpose is to unite, not divide. With that in mind, we have made the decision that we will not be playing the Rock the Country festival.” As of 10/02/26, all other dates remain booked.
