Country rock artist and vocal Trump supporter Kid Rock will headline a counter-program created by Turning Point USA.
Kid Rock performs at the Make America Great Again Victory Rally at Capital One Arena in Washington on Jan. 19, 2025. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times
Reporter
2/8/2026
Dueling halftime performances will vie for the attention of viewers across the world at Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday night.
One week after winning a Grammy for album of the year, Latin superstar Bad Bunny will headline the halftime show, along with rock band Green Day, who will start the opening ceremony.
Country rock artist Kid Rock will lead the “All-American Halftime Show,” hosted by Turning Point USA, the conservative advocacy group co-founded by the late Charlie Kirk.
The event will run parallel to Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8.
The counter-programming will also showcase performances by country singers Lee Brice, Brantley Gilbert, and Gabby Barrett, providing entertainment for viewers that celebrate “American culture, freedom, and faith,” a Turning Point USA statement noted.
“Fantastic lineup for the TPUSA halftime show, including the great Bob Ritchie AKA KID ROCK,” Vice President JD Vance wrote on X in response to the news.
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The event will livestream on The Epoch Times’ sister media site, NTD News, along with several other networks, including Real America’s Voice, TBN, and The National News Desk.
“The All-American Halftime Show is an opportunity for all Americans to enjoy a halftime show with no agenda other than to celebrate faith, family, and freedom,” TPUSA spokesman Andrew Kolvet said in a statement.
“We set out to provide an entertainment option that will be fun, excellent, and exciting for the entire family while millions are gathered together for the big game,” he added.
The NFL named Bad Bunny to headline the halftime show last September. Green Day’s appearance was announced last month.
Bad Bunny arrives at the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
Both acts have openly criticized Trump and the MAGA movement.
During a concert last April, Green Day’s lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong altered lyrics to reference his opposition to Trump’s political movement, singing, “I’m not a part of the MAGA agenda.”
Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has been an outspoken critic of federal immigration law enforcement efforts under the Trump administration.
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Bad Bunny often wears a dress when performing and primarily sings in Spanish. He was Spotify’s most-streamed artist globally in 2025.
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from President Donald Trump and conservatives.
Trump expressed his disapproval of the NFL’s halftime lineup in an interview with the New York Post on Jan. 24, noting that both acts have criticized him.
“I’m anti-them. I think it’s a terrible choice. All it does is sow hatred,” Trump said. “Terrible.”
The artist has shown animosity toward Trump since the president’s first term.
In 2017, during a benefit concert for hurricane relief across Puerto Rico, Mexico, and the Caribbean, Bad Bunny wore a shirt with the phrase “Are You a Tweeter or President?” written in Spanish.
Last July, the artist released the song “Nuevayol,” which concludes with an imitation of Trump’s voice apologizing to immigrants.
“I made a mistake. I want to apologize to the immigrants in America,” the voice says. “I know America is the whole continent. I want to say that this country is nothing without the immigrants. This country is nothing without Mexicans, Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, Colombians, Venezuelans, Cubans.”
In September 2025, Bad Bunny said that he would not perform in the United States, aside from the Super Bowl appearance, because of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.
During an acceptance speech at the Grammy Awards, he again chastised federal immigration enforcement.
“Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say, ICE out,” the artist said. ”We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans.”
In Turning Point’s halftime show, Kid Rock is the most notable name, whose real name is Robert James Ritchie. The 55-year-old performer started his career as a hip-hop artist before exploring multiple genres, including country rock.
He won Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist at the American Music Awards in 2003.
Kid Rock has performed at political events for Trump and is a vocal supporter of the president.
“We’re approaching this show like David and Goliath,” he said in a statement. “Competing with the pro football machine and a global pop superstar is almost impossible … or is it?”
Kid Rock addressed Bad Bunny directly saying, “He’s said he’s having a dance party, wearing a dress, and singing in Spanish? Cool. We plan to play great songs for folks who love America.”
Also, in the lineup, Gilbert is known for hits like “Dirt Road Anthem” and “Bottoms Up” while Brice gained widespread acclaim for the tracks ”One of Them Girls“ and ”Rumor.”
Barrett was named new female artist of the year at the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2021.
Kid Rock performs at the Make America Great Again Victory Rally at Capital One Arena in Washington on Jan. 19, 2025. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times
NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre said on X that he will watch Turning Point USA’s show.
“Not familiar with Bad Bunny so don’t know if his music is good or bad,” Favre wrote. “I’m just going to watch what I know Lee Brice, Kid Rock, All-American Halftime Show.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared Feb. 8 as Bad Bunny Day in California. He said the singer has a “soothing, beautiful voice” and “very nice looks.”
Bad Bunny addressed non-Spanish speakers during the Super Bowl LX halftime show press conference.
“They don’t even have to learn Spanish,” he said. “It’s better they learn to dance. There’s no better dance than the one that comes from the heart. That’s the only thing that they need to worry about.”
Comment by Truth Uncensored Afrika:
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. 2 Corinthians 6:14-17
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