Country music artists Morgan Wade and Carter Faith have decided not to participate in the upcoming 2026 'Rock the Country' music festival. Sources close to both performers confirmed their withdrawal to Rolling Stone, citing the festival's known connections to the MAGA political movement. This event features headliners such as Kid Rock and Jason Aldean, who are vocal supporters of former President Donald Trump.
The decision by Faith and Wade became apparent last Friday. Wade's name was notably absent from the festival's promotional materials, and Faith publicly responded to a fan's inquiry online, stating she would no longer be performing. The festival organizers for Rock the Country have not yet commented on these recent developments. This marks a continuation of artist withdrawals, following rapper Ludacris's earlier exit. His representative previously clarified that his initial inclusion in the lineup, announced on January 12, was a misunderstanding.
The 'Rock the Country' tour is scheduled to commence on May 1st in Bellville, Texas, and will span eight cities across the United States through September, with planned stops in states like Georgia, South Dakota, and Florida. The festival's lineup, which varies by location, still includes other well-known artists such as Blake Shelton, Jelly Roll, Creed, Brooks & Dunn, Hank Williams Jr., Lynyrd Skynyrd, Riley Green, Miranda Lambert, and Josh Turner. Carter Faith was originally slated to perform during the May 29-30 weekend in Bloomingdale, Georgia, and her name reportedly remained on the tour's official website as of Tuesday.
As previously highlighted by Rolling Stone in an analysis last year, the mainstream country music scene in Nashville has increasingly embraced the MAGA movement since Trump's second presidential campaign. Despite the recent departures of artists like Faith and Wade, the continued presence of major stars such as Shelton and Jelly Roll on the 'Rock the Country' roster underscores this evolving political alignment within the genre.
While the festival itself is not explicitly billed as a political rally, it has certainly featured politically charged moments in the past. For instance, Gavin Adcock delivered a strong critique of then-President Joe Biden in 2024. Last year, former President Trump himself made an appearance via video message to introduce Kid Rock's performance, further cementing the event's political undertones.
The withdrawal of these artists from the 'Rock the Country' tour indicates a growing tension between musical performances and political affiliations, particularly within the country music genre. The festival's ongoing association with the MAGA movement continues to shape its public image and influence artists' decisions regarding participation.