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Artists Ditch Kid Rock's Festival Over Divisive Ties
6 Feb
Summary
- Shinedown and Creed withdrew from the Rock the Country festival.
- The festival has ties to the MAGA movement and Kid Rock.
- Artists cited reasons for not wanting to create further division.
Several artists, including Shinedown and Creed, have recently withdrawn from the Rock the Country festival, a touring event scheduled for this spring and summer. Shinedown explicitly stated their decision stemmed from the festival's ties to the MAGA movement, emphasizing their band's commitment to unity over division. They expressed a desire to avoid participating in events that might foster further division.
Ludacris, Morgan Wade, and Carter Faith are also no longer listed on the festival's website, joining the growing list of artists pulling out. Kid Rock is a key investor and headliner for the festival. While not explicitly political, the event has previously served as a platform for political statements, with performers like Gavin Adcock railing against then-President Joe Biden in 2024. Donald Trump also introduced Kid Rock via video message at past concerts.
The festival's artwork for the current year promotes it as "A Festival for the People" and "Celebrating 250 years of Freedom." Specific dates and locations, such as Anderson, South Carolina, have also been removed from the festival's website, with artists like Creed and Shinedown no longer featured for those particular stops.
