Turning Point USA is delivering on its promise to counter Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show with its own musical event.
Kid Rock will headline what organizers are calling the “All-American Halftime Show.”
The conservative organization’s alternative programming comes amid widespread right-wing backlash against Bad Bunny’s historic selection as Super Bowl halftime performer.
And it’s shaping up to be one of the most politically charged Super Bowl weekends in recent memory.
Who’s Performing at TPUSA’s Counter-Show
Alongside Kid Rock, three country artists will take the stage: Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett.
Gilbert made waves in the mid-2010s with hits like “Bottoms Up” and “Country Must Be Wide.” Brice emerged during that same era, delivering chart-toppers including “Rumor,” “I Don’t Dance,” and “One of them Girls.”
Barrett represents a newer generation of country performers, breaking through more recently with singles “I Hope” and “The Good Ones.”
Kid Rock, a vocal Donald Trump supporter for years, struck a defiant tone when discussing the competing event.
We’re approaching this show like David and Goliath. Competing with the pro football machine and a global pop superstar is almost impossible … or is it?
That “global pop superstar” he’s referring to? Bad Bunny, who just won Album of the Year at the Grammys.
When and Where to Watch
TPUSA’s alternative halftime show airs around 8 p.m. ET on February 8.
Viewers can stream it across multiple platforms:
- Turning Point USA’s social media channels
- Real America’s Voice
- TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network)
- Various other conservative streaming platforms
The timing ensures direct competition with Bad Bunny’s actual Super Bowl LIX halftime performance in Santa Clara.
Conservative Backlash Fueling the Counter-Show
Turning Point USA first floated its halftime alternative shortly after Bad Bunny’s confirmation as headliner. The move represents just one piece of broader conservative opposition to the Puerto Rican superstar’s selection.
Right-wing critics have focused anger on two primary issues: Bad Bunny’s vocal opposition to ICE and President Trump’s immigration policies, plus the fact that he performs predominantly in Spanish.
That backlash has climbed all the way to the White House itself.
Trump Weighs In
President Trump didn’t mince words when asked about Super Bowl weekend entertainment choices.
I’m anti-them. I think it’s a terrible choice. All it does is sow hatred. Terrible.
His criticism extended beyond Bad Bunny to include Green Day, who are performing a pregame concert.
Green Day has been openly critical of Trump, making them another target in what’s become a politically charged Super Bowl entertainment lineup.
ICE Presence Creates Fear in Santa Clara
Political tensions aren’t stopping at competing concerts. The Trump administration has threatened to deploy ICE agents to the Super Bowl in Santa Clara, just outside San Francisco.
Whether agents will actually appear on game day remains uncertain. But the threat alone has cast a shadow over what should be a celebratory event for the host city.
Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor recently shared her frustration about how the situation has dampened Super Bowl excitement.
We should be celebrating that we are hosting one of the largest, if not the largest, event on the planet. Instead, we’re talking about the installation of fear in our community. It’s brought real fear.
What This Means for Super Bowl Sunday
Super Bowl LIX is shaping up to be more than just a football game. It’s become a cultural flashpoint highlighting deep political divisions.
Bad Bunny’s performance represents a historic moment—he’s among the first predominantly Spanish-language artists to headline the world’s biggest single-day sporting event. His massive global fanbase and recent Grammy win underscore his cultural impact.
Meanwhile, TPUSA’s counter-programming effort with Kid Rock signals how entertainment choices have become battlegrounds in broader political conflicts.
Viewers now face a choice that extends beyond musical preference. Where they tune in on February 8 carries symbolic weight in an increasingly polarized cultural landscape.
The “All-American Halftime Show” name itself frames the decision in stark terms—suggesting Bad Bunny’s performance somehow isn’t American, despite taking place at America’s biggest sporting event and featuring an artist from Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory.
Whatever side of this cultural divide viewers land on, one thing is certain: Super Bowl Sunday 2025 will be remembered as much for its political theater as its athletic competition.