When news broke that Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, also known as Bad Bunny, was headlining the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show, the country was divided.
Some (racist) individuals voiced complaints, explaining that a Spanish-speaking artist performing at an American event was problematic. This quickly became an elementary-level educational issue when people against the chosen performer stated he wasn’t American despite Puerto Rico being a literal United States territory. The people of Puerto Rico are American citizens.
One organization that rallied to further this suppressive perspective was Turning Point USA (TPUSA). If you didn’t know, TPUSA is a nonprofit, founded by the late Charlie Kirk, advocating for conservative views at American high schools, universities and colleges.
TPUSA stated they would be hosting the “All-American Halftime Show.” The organization claimed that it would be promoting family values and Christianity.
“The All-American Halftime Show is an opportunity for all Americans to enjoy a halftime show with no agenda other than to celebrate faith, family and freedom,” said TPUSA spokesman Andrew Kolvet. “We set out to provide an entertainment option that will be fun, excellent, and exciting for the entire family while millions are gathered together for the big game.”
Faith, family and freedom? Let’s get into it.
The show started around the same time as the Super Bowl’s official halftime show. It was essentially a small live concert venue, with four artists, that was streamed on several platforms. The show started with opener Brantley Gilbert, followed by Gabby Barrett and Lee Brice, all white country artists. It ended with headliner Kid Rock.
Gilbert opened the show saying, “This is real America.” He performed two songs for his set, “Real American,” which focuses on all the basics — military references, red, white and blue, beer and the national anthem.
After him, newer country artist Barrett took the stage. The first song she performed was “I Hope,” a song hoping that her ex-boyfriend’s new girlfriend cheats on him like he did on her. It glorifies revenge which to be honest, I have no idea how that ties into true authentic Christian values. I am pretty Jesus preached the exact opposite of that; maybe we just grew up reading different Bibles?
The third singer to take the stage was Brice. He performed three songs, “Drinking Class,” “Country Nowadays” and “Hard to Love.” “Country Nowadays” was probably the most impactful of his set, unfortunately.
Before beginning the song, he stated “Charlie (Kirk) gave people microphones so they could say what they wanted to— this is what I want to say.” The song’s lyrics emphasize freedom, doing what you want to do in the world without being affected by other people’s experiences. It was a hard listen because the song blatantly screams victim-complex.
He brought up the transgender community by referencing a conversation he had with his child which I found to be ironic because one of the biggest talking points of the MAGA movement is the necessity to not have conversations about gender identity with children. When Brice mentioned wanting to be able to not watch the evening news, I was puzzled. Who is forcing you to watch the news? The most interesting part was definitely hearing him use the term “right-wing devil,” insinuating that the left calls him that. Again, I am confused. The left are a godless group, but yet they are combining both religious and political terminology to insult you?
It had that hypocritical energy of “y’all are snowflakes,” but I can’t find it in myself to watch a Super Bowl halftime show because someone is speaking Spanish. I need my own Super Bowl half time show.
Then, it was time for the big headliner of the entire event… Kid Rock. Cue fireworks. An American flag descended as the backdrop. He appears in a huge fur coat and what looked to be jean shorts. He’s lip syncing (very poorly) and dancing to “Bawitdaba.”
The second song of his set wasn’t even his. It was an acoustic cover of Cody Johnson’s “Til You Can’t,” which Kid Rock performed under his legal name, Robert Richie. Towards the end of the song, he tells the audience how he was compelled to write an extra verse for this song to perform for them tonight. The verse was instructive, people need to dust off their bibles and give their lives to Jesus before time runs out.
I find that extremely ironic when this man has written songs about assaulting girls. In his song “Cool Daddy Cool,” he sings, “Young ladies, young ladies, I like ’em underage. See, some say that’s statutory, but I say it’s mandatory.”
I acknowledge that plenty of other artists have said similar things in their songs. What I can’t ignore is that none of them were the headliner for the alternative “All-American Halftime Show” hosted by Turning Point — a foundation built on Christian values, right?
The entire premise of this halftime show is rooted in racism. The “All-American halftime show,” and then you give us four artists, three male and one female, all white, all singing country music, minus Kid Rock’s stint with “Bawitdaba.”
By presenting this as the “All-American” alternative, the organizers are communicating that there is one single look, sound and feel to America, which is just fundamentally wrong and dangerous. You are also simultaneously saying those same qualifiers are what make you Christian. Not only was it objectively bad, it was intentionally ignorant.
