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By Gabe Whisnant
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Kid Rock's "Rock the Country" festival said it was “truly disappointed” it will no longer bring its July show to Anderson, South Carolina, saying the decision was based on maintaining production standards for fans.
Festival organizers also reasserted that their mission is to unite people through music, not politics, as several artists have dropped out of the traveling music tour cofounded and headlined by Kid Rock.
They told Newsweek in a statement, "Rock The Country was created to unite people together through music. Our lineups and our crowds reflect that sentiment -- a wide range of voices, backgrounds, and stories that make up this country.
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"We’re truly disappointed we won’t be bringing the show to Anderson. Our fans work hard for their money, and we refuse to put on a show that doesn’t meet the standard they deserve. Our focus remains where it’s always been: Supporting our artists, honoring our fans, and delivering unforgettable nights throughout the country. The shows ahead represent the heart of what Rock the Country stands for: music, community, and pride in where we come from.
"Loving America isn’t political; it’s who we are."
What Is the Controversy Surrounding Rock the Country Festival?
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, Brooks & Dunn, Miranda Lambert, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Nelly.
Critics have argued that the festival has become politically charged, while organizers have pushed back, saying Rock the Country was created to unite fans through music and community rather than partisan politics. The dispute has played out largely on social media, amplifying scrutiny of the festival’s messaging, partnerships and decisions around specific tour stops.
Last night, Kid Rock performed during Turning Point USA's "All-American Halftime Show," the conservative group's "family-friendly" alternative halftime show on Sunday to counter the NFL's official Super Bowl LX halftime performance featuring Latin music superstar Bad Bunny.
Who Pulled Out of Rock the Country?
Last week, Shinedown become the latest musical act to drop out of Rock the Country.
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.
“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.”
Meanwhile, Christian rock band Creed has also been removed from the lineup of the Rock the Country festival. Creed were on the lineup for the Rock the Country festival as of February 4, but three days later, they were no longer visible on the lineup. This is most likely in connection with the cancelled stop in South Carolina, but the Arms Wide Open hitmakers haven’t publicly confirmed a reason.
The exits by Shinedown and Creed follow departures by rapper Ludacris, along with country artists Morgan Wade and Carter Faith from the 2026 festival tour.
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.
About 47,000 people attended the event there last year. Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns confirmed the cancellation to the Anderson Independent Mail on Friday, saying the festival generated an economic windfall 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 told the outlet. "Of course, we are disappointed that Rock the Country will not return to Anderson this year."
Rock the Country 2026: Cities and Dates
- Bellville, Texas — May 1-2
- Bloomingdale, Georgia — May 29-30
- Sioux Falls, South Dakota — June 27-28
- Ashland, Kentucky — July 10-11
- Hastings, Michigan — August 8-9
- Ocala, Florida — August 28-29
- Hamburg, New York — September 11-12
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