The third annual Rock the Country festival tour, founded by MAGA country rock singer Kid Rock, has completely canceled its planned stop in Anderson, South Carolina. Too many artists decided to leave the event, forcing organizers to scrap the two-day show that was set for July. This marks a major setback for the controversial tour.
According to Complex, co-headliners Shinedown announced their departure just hours before the South Carolina date was officially canceled. The band publicly stated that their purpose is to unite people, not divide them. They said they didn’t want to participate in something they believed would create further division.
Shinedown wasn’t the first to leave. Rapper Ludacris was the first artist who backed out after facing fan backlash over the overtly right-wing “MAGA fest” feel of the show. Carter Faith and Morgan Wade quickly followed. Even Creed, a ’90s Christian rock band who were headliners for the July 25 through July 27 stop, were quietly removed from the festival’s website before the cancellation became official.
Kid Rock’s past comments about underage girls spark outrage
The festival’s collapse comes after disturbing history involving Kid Rock resurfaced online. The musician, whose real name is Robert James Ritchie, recently became the headliner of an alternative Super Bowl halftime show. This was organized as a protest against the performance of Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny.
Under intense scrutiny following that announcement, people started looking into Kid Rock’s past. In a resurfaced 2001 television appearance, he made comments about then-14-year-olds Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. He asked why every guy in America was waiting for them to turn 18, adding, “If there’s grass on the field, play ball!”
Historic lyrics from the musician’s 2001 song Cool, Daddy, Cool have also come under criticism. In the song, he raps, “Young ladies, young ladies, I like ’em underage, see. Some say that’s statutory, but I say it’s mandatory.”
When the Vice President celebrated the musician’s addition to the protest halftime show, he was questioned about these specific lyrics. He didn’t respond to the criticisms. President Trump describes Kid Rock as a “very good” friend. Meanwhile, Bad Bunny’s own Super Bowl preparation has drawn attention from NFL officials.
Kid Rock originally billed Rock the Country as “eight massive shows, eight small towns,” but they’ve updated their branding since dropping the South Carolina date. The festival calls itself a “celebration of community, tradition, and the spirit that’s carried America through 250 years.
“It’s still set to continue its remaining seven dates. Artists like Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Jelly Roll, and Lynyrd Skynyrd are still scheduled to perform alongside Kid Rock. Jelly Roll won three Grammys on February 1, 2026, but is sticking with the tour.
Published: Feb 8, 2026 02:45 pm