Breaking: Carrie Underwood and Kid Rock Headline Turning Point USA’s “All-American Halftime Show,” Sparking Super Bowl Counter-Programming Frenzy
By Marcus Hale, Entertainment Correspondent New York, NY – November 3, 2025
In a bold escalation of cultural counter-programming, Turning Point USA (TPUSA) announced Monday that country superstar Carrie Underwood and genre-bending provocateur Kid Rock will headline its “All-American Halftime Show” on February 8, 2026—timed to coincide with Super Bowl LX in San Francisco. The event, billed as a “family-friendly salute to faith, family, and freedom,” arrives amid conservative backlash against the NFL’s selection of Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny as the official halftime performer. With tickets selling out in under 90 minutes and social media ablaze, the announcement has ignited a transcontinental debate: Is this patriotic pageantry or partisan pageantry?
TPUSA, the conservative youth advocacy group founded by the late Charlie Kirk and now led by his widow Erika Kirk, first teased the alternative spectacle in October as a riposte to what it called the NFL’s “globalist drift.” Bad Bunny’s booking—his Spanish-language hits and past criticisms of U.S. immigration policies—drew fire from figures like President Donald Trump, who labeled it “absolutely ridiculous” on Truth Social. “Never heard of him,” Trump added, amplifying calls for a “real American” showcase. Enter TPUSA: The nonprofit, with its 2,500 campus chapters and $100 million annual budget, positioned the show as an antidote, promising “thundering guitars, jaw-dropping fireworks, and unapologetic patriotism” at a yet-to-be-revealed venue in the American heartland—rumors point to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
Underwood, 42, the Oklahoma native and eight-time Grammy winner whose powerhouse vocals have defined NFL broadcasts since 2013, embodies the event’s wholesome core. Known for anthems like “Before He Cheats” and her gospel-tinged Cry Pretty era, she’s long navigated Nashville’s political tightrope but leaned into faith-forward messaging post-2024. “I’m thrilled to celebrate the values that make us strong—music that lifts the spirit and unites the heartland,” Underwood said in a statement, teasing a medley of hits infused with “red, white, and blue spirit.” Her involvement aligns with TPUSA’s ethos: Kirk’s organization has championed her as a “symbol of purity and resilience” in past events.
Kid Rock, 54, brings the rebel fire. The Detroit rapper-rocker, whose catalog spans “Bawitdaba” to “American Bad Ass,” has been a MAGA mainstay—performing at Trump’s 2025 inauguration rally and golfing at Mar-a-Lago. His unfiltered style, blending hip-hop bravado with Confederate-flag controversies (later disavowed), promises edge: Expect pyrotechnics syncing to “All Summer Long” and a possible guest spot waving an oversized Stars and Stripes. “This ain’t just a show—it’s a middle finger to the woke NFL,” Rock posted on X, where the announcement racked up 5.2 million views. “Carrie and I? We’re the real MVPs. God bless the USA.”
The pairing has fans in a fervor. #AllAmericanHalftime trended No. 1 on X within hours, with 3.8 million posts blending excitement (“Finally, English lyrics and no twerking!”) and skepticism (“TPUSA turning the Super Bowl into a Trump rally?”). Conservative influencers like Ben Shapiro hailed it as “the halftime America deserves,” while country radio stations reported a 22% spike in Underwood streams. Satirical flyers circulating on social media—falsely listing Jason Aldean and Travis Tritt as openers—added to the chaos, debunked by TPUSA as “fake news from the left.” Yet, the real buzz? Sold-out status: 18,000 seats gone in 87 minutes, outpacing Bad Bunny’s official merch drop by 40%, per Nielsen data.
Critics, however, decry it as politicized spectacle. GLAAD condemned the event as “a dog whistle for division,” citing TPUSA’s ties to anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric. The NFL, through commissioner Roger Goodell, issued a measured response: “We celebrate all artists who bring joy to fans. Super Bowl LX remains a unifying platform.” Bad Bunny, unfazed, tweeted in Spanish: “They can have their flags; I’ll take the future.” Liberal outlets like The New York Times framed it as “MAGA’s revenge tour,” noting TPUSA’s $5 million production budget—funded by donors including the Heritage Foundation—could eclipse the official show’s $13 million spectacle.
Logistically, details remain sparse. The show kicks off at halftime (approximately 8:15 p.m. ET), broadcast live on TPUSA’s streaming platform and syndicated via Newsmax and Fox Nation. Expect a 20-minute set: Underwood’s soaring ballads transitioning to Rock’s high-octane riffs, capped by a fireworks finale over a massive LED American eagle. Guest appearances? Whispers suggest Lee Greenwood for “God Bless the USA” or even a video message from Trump. Erika Kirk, in a Fox interview, teased: “This is for the forgotten fans—the ones who want heartland heroes, not Hollywood imports.”
The cultural clash underscores America’s deepening divides. Super Bowl halftime shows, once apolitical extravaganzas (think Michael Jackson’s 1993 moonwalk), have evolved into flashpoints: From Janet Jackson’s 2004 “wardrobe malfunction” to Rihanna’s 2023 aerials. Bad Bunny’s selection—his 2024 album Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana topping charts—aimed for inclusivity, but TPUSA’s riposte taps into 62% of Republicans who view the NFL as “too woke,” per a 2025 Pew poll.
For Underwood and Rock, it’s career rocket fuel. Underwood’s Vegas residency extends; Rock’s “Great American Road Trip” tour adds dates. TPUSA gains: Membership inquiries surged 35%, bolstering its youth mobilization post-Kirk’s 2024 assassination. As fireworks metaphors go, this one’s a dud or a dazzler? Early bets lean dazzler—polls show 48% of viewers planning dual-streaming.
In a nation tuning in for escapism, TPUSA’s gambit flips the script: Not just a concert, but a statement. As Underwood croons and Rock roars, one truth rings clear—on Super Bowl Sunday, America’s divided, but the volume’s cranked to 11. Lights, cameras, patriotism: The real show starts now.
