I watched Turning Point USA's controversial 'All American' Halftime Show, featuring Kid Rock, so you don't have to. Here's what you need to know.
The right-wing organization Turning Point USA (TPUSA) organized a MAGA-friendly concert in protest of Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance, which sparked significant right-wing backlash. The show, held on Sunday, featured a mix of country music and religious undertones, with a clear agenda to celebrate faith, family, and freedom.
The show began with a Jimi Hendrix-style electric guitar-led 'Star Spangled Banner', followed by Brantley Gilbert's declaration of 'this is real America' and his song 'Real American'. Lee Brice, paying tribute to TPUSA co-founder Charlie Kirk, said, 'gave people microphones so they could say what’s on their mind, this is what’s on mine', before performing 'Country Nowadays'.
Gabby Barrett, one of the strongest performers of the evening, played multiplatinum hits 'I Hope' and 'The Good Ones'. Kid Rock, the headliner, performed a two-song set, including a cover of Cody Johnson's 'Til You Can’t'.
The show ended with a tribute to Kirk, featuring his quotes and videos. TPUSA had promised no agenda other than to celebrate faith, family, and freedom.
However, the show's viability as a competitor to the Super Bowl was questionable, with Bad Bunny having 90.5 million Spotify listeners compared to Kid Rock's 5.3 million. The live stream peaked at nearly 5 million viewers, and TPUSA had to encourage viewers to tune in on YouTube due to licensing issues.
TPUSA's plans for an alternative halftime show were first announced in October, following significant right-wing backlash to Bad Bunny's selection as this year's performer. Bad Bunny, an American citizen of Puerto Rican descent, is a vocal critic of the Trump administration's immigration policies and has faced fears of ICE raids while touring in the US.
The show sparked controversy, with some arguing that it was a form of hate speech and a counterpoint to Bad Bunny's performance. The debate over the show's message and its impact on the Super Bowl remains a topic of discussion, with many questioning the organization's motives and the show's overall message.
