UNITED STATES – JANUARY 28: Kid Rock, whose real name is Robert Ritchie, testifies during the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Technology, and Data Privacy hearing titled “Fees Rolled on All Summer Long: Examining the Live Entertainment Industry,” in Russell building on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP Images)

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Gabe Whisnant

By Gabe Whisnant

News Editor

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Shinedown has become the latest musical act to drop out of Rock the Country, the traveling music festival cofounded and headlined by Kid Rock, with the band saying its "purpose is to unite, not divide."

The Florida hard-rock band had been scheduled to headline the Anderson, South Carolina, stop in late July, which has now been canceled. In a statement posted to social media, the band said it decided to withdraw because it does not want to participate in something it believes could create further division in the country.

Kid Rock and fellow headliner, country star Jason Aldean, are vocal conservatives. Kid Rock is a staunch ally of President Donald Trump and has visited the White House several times. The traveling festival lineup also includes Blake Shelton, Hank Williams Jr., Jelly Roll, Creed, Brooks & Dunn, Miranda Lambert, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Nelly.

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Kid Rock, whose real name is Robert Ritchie, testifies during a Senate hearing in Washington, D.C., on January 28. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP Images)

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“Shinedown is everyone’s band,” the band wrote on Facebook. “We feel that we have been given a platform to bring all people together through the power of music and song.

“We have one BOSS, and it is everyone in the audience. Our band’s purpose is to unite, not divide. With that in mind, we have made the decision that we will not be playing the Rock the Country Festival.

“We know this decision will create differences of opinion. But we do not want to participate in something we believe will creature further division.

“And to our fans, thank you for supporting and believing in us.”

Newsweek has reached out to Rock the Country and a representative for Kid Rock via email on Friday afternoon for comment.

Artists Dropping Out of Rock the Country Festival 2026

Shinedown’s exit follows departures by rapper Ludacris, along with country artists Morgan Wade and Carter Faith from the 2026 festival tour.

Days after the lineup was announced January 12, a representative for Ludacris told Rolling Stone that the rapper’s inclusion was a “mix-up,” saying he was never intended to be part of the festival. Media personality Ebro Darden echoed that account, saying Ludacris was “never” booked on the lineup.

Rock the Country Festival Canceled in Anderson, South Carolina

Rock the Country will no longer stop in Anderson County, South Carolina, as part of its upcoming music festival tour, county officials confirmed to the Anderson Independent Mail.

The festival had been scheduled for July 25-26 in Anderson, with an initial lineup that included Creed, Gretchen Wilson, Shinedown and Ludacris when the tour was announced in January.

Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns confirmed the cancellation to the Independent Mail on Friday.

About 47,000 people attended the event in Anderson last year. Burns said the festival generated a multimillion-dollar economic impact for the region and called its absence this year disappointing.

"The event was a huge success drawing tens of thousands of visitors, making a multi-million-dollar economic impact on the Upstate," Burns said. "Of course, we are disappointed that Rock the Country will not return to Anderson this year."

Rock the Country 2026: Cities and Dates

Updates: 2/6/26, 5:50 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.

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