Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett took center stage in Turning Point USA’s alternative halftime show during Super Bowl LX, offering what organizers called a celebration of “faith, family and freedom.”
The event, which streamed on YouTube to nearly 2 million viewers, positioned itself as counterprogramming to Bad Bunny’s official NFL halftime performance.
Rock promised a mix of “classic rock, in your face” energy alongside “one of the best written songs in a long time” during his Fox News appearance promoting the show.
What unfolded was a 40-minute celebration of country music, conservative values, and a tribute to late TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk.
Technical Delays and Digital Drama
The show didn’t start without hitches. Nearly 10 minutes after the countdown clock hit zero, viewers remained waiting on TPUSA’s YouTube channel.
The stream was initially planned for both YouTube and X (formerly Twitter), but licensing restrictions forced organizers to cancel the X broadcast just hours before showtime.
While waiting, the live chat exploded with activity—viewers posting American flag memes and sharing their locations across the country.
Brantley Gilbert Opens With Patriotic Energy
Gilbert’s lead guitarist kicked things off with a shredding instrumental version of “The Star Spangled Banner” before Gilbert himself emerged.
This is real America.
He launched into “Real American” while gripping a microphone topped with brass knuckles, pyrotechnics erupting behind him. The small but enthusiastic live audience responded with fervor.
Gilbert then shifted gears dramatically, introducing “Dirt Road Anthem”—the song he co-wrote with Colt Ford that became Jason Aldean’s monster 2011 hit.
Starting with only acoustic guitar accompaniment, Gilbert slowed down the familiar track into something unexpectedly tender. Fans swayed with arms raised as he performed the song’s rap section, one of country music’s earliest hip-hop crossovers.
Gabby Barrett Delivers Vocal Power
Without visible transition, American Idol alum Gabby Barrett appeared, launching into her massive 2020 breakthrough “I Hope.”
Barrett’s vocals were pristine throughout, showcasing why she became one of country music’s fastest-rising stars. She followed with “The Good Ones,” her follow-up single about finding a decent man—thematically opposite to “I Hope’s” revenge narrative.
The lack of visible handoffs between performers suggested each act recorded separately rather than performing live in sequence.
Lee Brice Gets Political
Lee Brice materialized on stage with his 2014 working-class anthem “Drinking Class.” The crowd roared when he sang about getting up “again and again” after being knocked down.
In the evening’s first direct audience address, Brice connected the performance to Charlie Kirk’s legacy.
Charlie gave people microphones so they could say what’s on their minds. This is what’s on mine.
He then premiered “Country Nowadays,” a forthcoming track that became the show’s only overtly political moment.
The song addressed culture war flashpoints directly. Brice sang about wanting to hunt and mow his lawn, but also voiced his disapproval of boys dressing like girls—a line that earned thunderous applause.
I’m some right wing devil…because I was Jesus raised…because I have my morals and a small-town point of view.
He closed with 2012’s “Hard to Love,” returning to safer emotional territory. Production quality remained consistently strong throughout.
Notably absent was “When the Kingdom Comes,” his tribute to Charlie Kirk—perhaps because its melancholy tone didn’t fit the celebratory atmosphere.
Kid Rock’s Dramatic Transformation
Rock entered with maximum spectacle—denim shorts, fur jacket, and fedora—launching into 1998’s breakthrough “Bawitdaba.” The light show intensified dramatically as he focused more on energetic movement than vocal precision, appearing to lip-sync rather than sing live.
Then everything shifted.
Against a black backdrop, a cellist and violinist appeared at stage edge. Rock was reintroduced by his birth name, Robert Richie.
What followed was the “recently written country song” he’d teased on Fox News—Cody Johnson’s poignant “Til You Can’t,” which won Single of the Year at the 2022 CMA Awards. Rock had covered it in November.
Playing acoustic guitar before a drummer whose kit featured the Constitution’s Preamble, Rock delivered a surprisingly tender, emotional rendition.
Adding A Spiritual Verse
Rock then revealed he’d written a new verse specifically for this performance.
There’s a book that is sitting in your house somewhere that could use some dusting off. There’s a man that died for all our sins on the cross.
He gave an explicit shout-out to Jesus before dedicating the performance “in remembrance of Charlie Kirk.” Photos of Kirk with his wife Erika flashed across venue screens.
As promised, Rock released his version at midnight following the performance. He notably didn’t mention whether proceeds would benefit TPUSA.
Context and Controversy
Before the show, Rock had criticized NFL’s choice of Bad Bunny, suggesting Bay Area natives like Metallica would better serve fans. Ironically, Bay Area band Green Day performed during the pre-game ceremony.
Rock emphasized performers approached the event “without hate in our hearts”—a sentiment Gilbert echoed on social media. This appeared responsive to President Trump’s comments to Page Six calling Bad Bunny and Green Day “terrible choices” that “sow hatred.”
I’m anti-them. I think it’s a terrible choice. All it does is sow hatred. Terrible.
TPUSA’s homepage prominently featured donation solicitations tied to Charlie Kirk’s final book, Stop, in the Name of God, and his mission recruiting high school and college students to build a movement “rooted in faith, freedom and love of country.”
Production Values and Audience Reach
Despite being counterprogramming rather than official NFL content, production quality matched professional standards. Sound mixing was clean, lighting was dynamic, and performer audio remained crisp throughout.
The live audience appeared modest in size but responded enthusiastically. YouTube viewership peaked near 2 million concurrent viewers—impressive for an alternative stream, though dwarfed by Super Bowl halftime’s typical 100+ million television audience.
Throughout the broadcast, graphics encouraged viewers to text “freedom” to purchase TPUSA merchandise and join the movement.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared during pre-show countdown with a brief message: “God bless our warriors and God bless our republic,” before tossing a football toward camera.
A pro-life adoption advertisement was curiously cut short for commercials promoting Los Angeles Olympics tickets and AI transcription service Otter—a jarring tonal shift that seemed to undermine the conservative messaging.
The 40-minute show ultimately delivered what organizers promised: country music performances celebrating traditional American values, wrapped around remembrance of Charlie Kirk’s vision. Whether viewers saw celebration or division likely depended entirely on which side of America’s cultural divide they occupied.