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The Lineup: What’s Been Announced
Turning Point USA’s All-American Halftime Show is set to take place simultaneously with the Super Bowl halftime on Sunday, February 8, 2026.
The performers announced so far include:
Kid Rock — rock and country artist known for his patriotic and politically charged persona
Brantley Gilbert — country artist with a southern rock edge
Lee Brice — country singer/songwriter
Gabby Barrett — country/pop crossover artist
These artists are positioned around themes of “faith, family, and freedom,” a promotional framing TPUSA says will resonate with fans who are skeptical or critical of the NFL’s choice of Bad Bunny for the official halftime show.
According to lineup announcements and promotional statements, performers will play for an audience at the same time as the official Super Bowl broadcast, with the event streamed across conservative-leaning media outlets and platforms.
The Unified Reaction: “It’s Political, Not Musical”
Once the lineup was revealed, social media quickly lit up with reactions—many of which sound remarkably similar, even across different communities and platforms.
1. Critics Call It a Culture-War Stunt
A dominant sentiment from critics is that the event isn’t about entertainment, it’s about politics—and not just subtle politics, but full-on culture war signaling. Some critics describe the lineup as “embarrassing,” not because they dislike individual artists per se, but because the whole concept appears engineered as a response to Bad Bunny’s official show rather than a standalone music event.
TV personalities such as those on The View have even taken aim at the quality of the music itself, implying that supporting artists like Kid Rock in this context is more about politics than artistic merit.
