Last week brought a significant shake-up for the annual Rock The Country festival, as organizers officially canceled the event's planned July dates in Anderson, SC. Originally slated as part of an eight-city run, the Anderson stop was dropped entirely following mounting controversy and key artist withdrawals.
While Kid Rock has served as the public face of the festival (and the face of lip-synching in recent days) in recent years, he was not scheduled to perform at either of the now-canceled Anderson shows. Instead, Creed were booked to headline the July 25 date, with Shinedown set to close out July 26.
The cancellation came shortly after Shinedown announced their decision to exit the festival altogether, citing backlash from fans over the band's participation in the event.
In a statement addressing their withdrawal, Shinedown explained: "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."
The move was especially notable given that Shinedown drummer Barry Kerch had previously criticized rapper Ludacris for pulling out of the same festival weeks earlier. Ludacris, along with country singer Morgan Wade, had both withdrawn from the Anderson stop well before Shinedown's exit.
Following their departures, Staind and Skillet were added to separate dates in an attempt to stabilize the lineup. I'd argue that made it worse than it already was, but whatever.
In a newly issued statement released February 9, festival organizers addressed the Anderson cancellation, expressing disappointment while pushing back against criticism of the event's "patriotic" (in the modern, shitty sense) tone: "'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. 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. Loving America isn't political; it's who we are."
They're right in saying that "Loving America isn't political," but they're the ones that made it political. So maybe pick messaging a stick with it, you stupid bastard.
Since its inception, Rock The Country has become a lightning rod for controversy due to its conservative-leaning artist roster and overtly patriotic branding. On the 2026 edition, Kid Rock stated: "It's this simple. 'Rock The Country' isn't just a music festival; it's a movement. In 2026, as America celebrates its 250th anniversary, this is a place for hard-working, God-fearing patriots to gather as one and celebrate freedom, music, and the party of the year."
And let's just stop there for a second. First and foremost, Kid Rock has been a firebrand for the conservatives for years now. Get the fuck out of here with all that "let's all come together" nonsense.
Also, Kid Rock is the same guy that boycotted (barely) Bud Light when it was the MAGA thing to do, and then stopped boycotting them as soon as it wasn't. Do you really believe for one second that this guy is trying to do something for you?
