Kid Rock taking on Bad Bunny in alternative Super Bowl halftime show

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Kid Rock will be taking on Bad Bunny as he headlines Turning Point USA’s alternative halftime show during Super Bowl 60.

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When Bad Bunny takes to the stage Sunday night, the Michigan rocker, who is a close ally of President Donald Trump, will be joined by country artists Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice and Gabby Barrett for Turning Point USA’s All-American Halftime Show.

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According to a press release, the show “will be a unique, patriotic event proudly celebrating American culture, freedom, and faith.”

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Bad Bunny’s performance will be aired on NBC, TSN and CTV, with the All-American Halftime Show set to stream on Turning Point USA’s social media channels, including YouTube, X, and Rumble.

Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet said the group wants 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.”

“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,” Kolvet said.

“We’re approaching this show like David and Goliath. Competing with the pro football machine and a global pop superstar is almost impossible … or is it?” Kid Rock added in a release shared with Variety and USA Today. The All Summer Long hitmaker then took a swipe at Bad Bunny, who is a vocal critic of Trump’s.

“He’s said he’s having a dance party, wearing a dress, and singing in Spanish? Cool. We plan to play great songs for folks who love America.”

Turning Point USA is a political organization that was founded by the late Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated last year. His widow, Erika Kirk, has taken over as the face of the group.

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Bad Bunny Super Bowl performance backlash, explained

Despite being Spotify’s most-streamed artist globally last year, the NFL has repeatedly faced calls to replace the Latin musician at the upcoming game between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots.

“Is the @NFL incapable of reading the room?” Sebastian Gorka, Trump’s Senior Director for Counter Terrorism, posted on X after Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, was selected.

A Change.org petition was started, imploring the NFL to hire country artist George Strait to replace him.

Former NASCAR driver Danica Patrick also criticized the idea of Bad Bunny performing at Super Bowl 60.

“No songs in English should not be allowed at one of America’s highest rated television events of the year … not just for sports,” she tweeted.

Later, the rising conservative pundit suggested during an appearance on Steve Bannon’s War Room podcast that “counter-shows” could be programmed during Bad Bunny’s set to appeal to viewers at home.

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Megyn Kelly called his presence was “a middle finger to MAGA and conservatives,” according to The Daily Beast.

Trump’s former campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, warned that ICE agents could be at the game looking to round up illegal immigrants. 

“It’s so shameful that they’ve decided to pick somebody who just seems to hate America so much,” Lewandowski said during an appearance on Benny Johnson’s The Benny Show.

Trump said he “never heard of him” when asked about the pick.

“I don’t know who he is … I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s like crazy … I think it’s absolutely ridiculous,” Trump said.

Trump said he’s skipping this year’s Super Bowl, in part because of the inclusion of Bad Bunny and Green Day, who will open the game.

“I’m anti-them. I think it’s a terrible choice. All it does is sow hatred. Terrible,” Trump told the New York Post.

But NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed the league was not reconsidering their choice.

“I’m not sure we’ve ever selected an artist where we didn’t have some blowback or criticism,” Goodell said, according to The Associated Press. “It’s pretty hard to do when you have literally hundreds of millions of people that are watching.”

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Speaking to reporters Monday, Goodell said that Bad Bunny was “one of the great artists in the world.”

“That’s one of the reasons we chose him,” Goodell said, according to CNN. “But the other reason is he understood the platform he was on, and that this platform is used to unite people, and to be able to bring people together with their creativity, with their talents, and to be able to use this moment to do that. And I think artists in the past have done that. I think Bad Bunny understands that, and I think he’ll have a great performance.”

Goodell’s message came the day after Bad Bunny lashed out at anti-immigrant policies being overseen by Trump at the Grammy Awards.

“Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say, ‘ICE out,’” Bad Bunny said. “We’re not savage. We’re not animals. We’re not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans.”

mdaniell@postmedia.com

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