In a provocative counter-programming move, Kid Rock fronted Turning Point USA's "All American" Halftime Show, coinciding with the Super Bowl's official performance by Bad Bunny. This event served as a clear protest against the mainstream choice, delivering a concert steeped in religious and patriotic fervor, aiming to champion a conservative viewpoint through music. Despite facing licensing challenges that limited its reach on some platforms, the alternative show garnered significant attention, attracting nearly five million viewers to its YouTube livestream.
The event kicked off slightly after 8 p.m. ET with an electric guitar rendition of the "Star-Spangled Banner," reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix's iconic performance. Following this, Brantley Gilbert, adorned in a "God Family Country" t-shirt, took the stage. His opening declaration, "this is real America," set the tone for a series of performances that blended country music with overt conservative messaging, often verging on jingoism. The hour-long concert featured a lineup including Lee Brice and Gabby Barrett, each contributing to the show's distinct agenda.
Lee Brice's segment included a poignant tribute to Charlie Kirk, a co-founder of TPUSA, highlighting Kirk's role in empowering voices that articulate conservative perspectives. Brice performed his track "Country Nowadays," a song whose lyrics, such as "little boys ain't little girls," reflect traditional values and the perceived challenges of maintaining "small-town views" in contemporary American society. Gabby Barrett, a standout performer of the evening, showcased her popular songs "I Hope" and "The Good Ones," providing a strong vocal performance within the thematic framework of the show.
Kid Rock himself appeared in the latter part of the show, initially performing "Bawitdaba" with a backing track, then returning later, now dressed in slacks, to deliver a cover of Cody Johnson's "Til You Can't." The event concluded with a tribute to Charlie Kirk, featuring his past statements and video montages of him with his family and addressing his supporters. Organizers had previously stated their intention for the show to be agenda-free, focusing on "faith, family, and freedom," and Kid Rock framed it as a David-and-Goliath battle against the established football and pop music industries.
The decision to host an alternative halftime show stemmed from a backlash against the NFL's selection of Bad Bunny, marking the first Spanish-language performance in Super Bowl history. Figures such as former President Donald Trump and Mike Johnson voiced strong criticism regarding this choice. Bad Bunny, a global music sensation and a vocal critic of past immigration policies, represents a shift towards broader cultural inclusion, a move that the conservative alternative show explicitly sought to counter with its focus on traditional American themes.
This counter-programming by Turning Point USA, featuring Kid Rock and other artists, deliberately offered an ideological contrast to the Super Bowl's official halftime show. By championing themes of faith, family, and national identity, the event aimed to resonate with an audience that felt disenfranchised by mainstream cultural shifts, providing a platform for conservative artistic expression and drawing a substantial viewership seeking an alternative narrative.