Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett are set to perform at Turning Point USA's 'All-American Halftime Show,' an alternative to the Super Bowl halftime featuring Bad Bunny. The event, organized after Bad Bunny's announcement, has sparked concerns about divisiveness in country music. Gilbert defended his participation, emphasizing unity over controversy.
The Turning Point USA 'All-American Halftime Show' is scheduled for Super Bowl Sunday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, countering the NFL's official halftime performance by Bad Bunny, a Puerto Rican artist who performs primarily in Spanish. TPUSA chairwoman and CEO Erika Kirk announced the event following Bad Bunny's selection, describing it as a 'pro-American' alternative that celebrates 'faith, family, and freedom.' The lineup includes headliner Kid Rock alongside country artists Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett.
This decision has raised alarms in the country music industry, which has been striving for greater inclusivity toward minority and progressive audiences. Middle Tennessee State University Media and Entertainment dean Beverly Keel called it 'one of the most divisive events,' noting it as 'the white alternative to an American artist of Puerto Rican descent.' The show honors the late TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk, killed in September during a public event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Kirk was a controversial figure, praised in conservative circles for free speech advocacy but criticized by others as racist, homophobic, and misogynistic.
Lee Brice told Fox News the event allows him to 'be a part of something that I believe in,' framing it as a celebration of Kirk's vision. Brantley Gilbert addressed criticism in an Instagram post on February 6, stating, 'I’m not playing this show to be divisive. I was offered this opportunity and imagined my kids watching their daddy perform at halftime during the biggest game in American football.' He added, 'The way I treat people isn’t conditional based on what our differences may be. I believe “united we stand, divided we fall.”'
Industry experts worry the artists' involvement could harm the genre's broadening appeal. Artist manager Scott Stem questioned if they understood TPUSA's direction, emphasizing, 'Bad Bunny is most definitely American. He’s Puerto Rican.' F2 Entertainment's Fletcher Foster noted several other country acts declined invitations, weighing potential controversy against benefits. Culture podcaster Marcus K. Dowling highlighted polarization, saying, 'If music is going to be honest and authentic, then in a polarized society, it’s gonna go left [or] right.'
Country music's history includes barriers for Black artists like Charley Pride until 2008, with recent progress for figures such as Darius Rucker, Kane Brown, and Shaboozey, who dedicated his February 1 Grammy win to immigrants: 'Thank you for bringing your culture, your music, your stories and your traditions here. You give America color.' Observers hope fans separate the event from the genre, with Stem affirming, 'The great thing about country music is it’s wide, and there’s a huge diversity there.' The show will stream on TPUSA's social media, The Daily Wire, and TBN, as Super Bowl LX pits the Seattle Seahawks against the New England Patriots on NBC and Peacock.
