When conservatives decided to counter Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show with their own “All-American” alternative, they probably didn’t expect the internet to turn their promotional material into a viral comedy goldmine.
Turning Point USA’s answer to Bad Bunny—featuring Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett—has backfired spectacularly.
A resurfaced video of Kid Rock performing at the 2024 Republican National Convention, meant to drum up excitement, has instead become a masterclass in secondhand embarrassment.
The clip shows exactly what nobody asked for: uncomfortable attendees in suits pretending to enjoy themselves while Kid Rock performs “American Badass.”
Usha Vance’s Face Says It All
The internet couldn’t help but notice Second Lady Usha Vance’s complete lack of enthusiasm during the performance.
Her expression has become the unofficial mood board for everyone watching the clip. One viral tweet captured the sentiment perfectly, noting how it takes mere seconds to see her misery.
Incredible how it only takes 10 seconds of watching this video to see how miserable JD Vance’s wife is.
Another user posted a photo of Vance’s stone-faced reaction with the caption, “All of us listening to this.”
The commentary kept coming, with people pointing out that even JD Vance himself seemed to recognize the performance quality. Or lack thereof.
The Crowd Goes…Mild
Perhaps even more telling than Vance’s reaction was the audience’s collective struggle to appear entertained.
Social media users dissected every crowd shot, noting the awkward pseudo-dancing and complete absence of anyone actually singing along. The disconnect between the energy Kid Rock was projecting and what the suited attendees were delivering became comedy gold.
Watch how everyone pretends to be dancing, but not one person sings the lyrics. How ridiculous they look pretending to like this, in their suit and tie. This is not their jive.
Multiple commenters noted the forced nature of the whole spectacle, with one declaring they didn’t know a crowd could be “this dead.”
The cringe factor multiplied with each crowd cutaway, as formally dressed attendees attempted to bob along to music they clearly weren’t feeling.
When Patriotism Meets Performance Art
The broader context makes this situation even more absurd. The entire “All-American Halftime Show” exists as a response to Bad Bunny—a Puerto Rican artist—performing at the Super Bowl.
Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, making the outrage particularly ironic. But that hasn’t stopped certain conservative circles from treating Bad Bunny’s Spanish-language music as somehow un-American.
The internet had thoughts about this logic, or lack thereof.
No amount of hatred for Puerto Rican musicians should make you pretend this is good.
One particularly cutting observation noted that Republicans find themselves in the uncomfortable position of having to pretend they enjoy Kid Rock’s music simply because he’s politically aligned with them.
The Roasting Continues
Social media users didn’t hold back in their assessment of the performance and what it represents.
The comparisons ranged from brutal to hilarious, with one person suggesting the whole thing looked like a Sacha Baron Cohen mockumentary.
- Musical preferences: “These people love unseasoned stuff…from food to music”
- Forced enjoyment: “Imagine forcing yourself to sit through a Kid Rock performance because you’re so mad that a non white guy is doing the Super Bowl”
- Quality assessment: “Here’s our own Bad Bunny but he’s White and an American patriot and then you listen to the music and it’s the worst thing you have ever heard in your life”
One commenter perfectly summarized the situation by calling it “one of the most embarrassing things a middle aged man can possibly do.”
What This Really Shows
Beyond the entertainment value of watching people squirm through an uncomfortable performance, this viral moment reveals something deeper about performative politics.
When ideology requires pretending to enjoy something you clearly don’t, when cultural resistance means forcing yourself through objectively cringe-worthy moments, the facade becomes transparent.
The video serves as an accidental testament to authenticity—or the lack of it. While organizers intended to showcase American pride and musical talent, they inadvertently created a perfect example of why forced enthusiasm falls flat.
Meanwhile, Bad Bunny—the most-streamed artist on Spotify in 2025—will take the actual Super Bowl halftime stage, Spanish lyrics and all, performing for millions who genuinely want to be there.
The contrast couldn’t be more stark. Or more telling.
As the “All-American Halftime Show” approaches, one thing seems certain: Usha Vance’s expression has already become the defining image of the entire endeavor, capturing a mood that resonates far beyond the Republican National Convention crowd.