When Bad Bunny was first announced as the Super Bowl LX halftime performer, the NFL received a lot of backlash from conservatives. Bad Bunny is a Puerto Rican rapper and singer. At the 2026 Grammy Awards, he won Album of the Year for his album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS. His album made history as the first Spanish-language album to win in that category. So if he’s one of the biggest names in music, why do conservatives hate him?
Bad Bunny has openly criticized President Donald Trump and his comments on Bad Bunny’s home of Puerto Rico. Trump, in turn, slammed the NFL for their choice and is refusing to attend the game. Bad Bunny’s also been very vocal about being anti-ICE, even refusing shows in the U.S. due to the presence of ICE. In his Grammy acceptance speech, he said, “Before I say thanks to God, I'm going to say, ICE out.”
So in solidarity with the president, Turning Point USA has announced its own halftime show that conservatives can tune into instead during the segment. They’ve already announced the four headliners.
Turning Point USA is Hosting
Turning Point USA is the conservative activist group that was led by co-founder Charlie Kirk before his death. They’ve announced an “All American Halftime Show” that will be “a unique, patriotic event proudly celebrating American culture, freedom, and faith,” according to the Turning Point USA website.
The NFL has received a lot of backlash for choosing a performer who “isn’t American,” but this is untrue. Bad Bunny is from Puerto Rico, which is a U.S. territory. Because he was born there, he is a U.S. citizen. However, all his songs are in Spanish, which conservatives take issue with. In response, Turning Point USA has chosen four English-speaking artists to perform: Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett. They announced the lineup on X on February 2nd.
Kid Rock
Kid Rock has been around since the ‘80s, singing his signature style of rap meets heavy metal meets country rock music. Some of his greatest hits include “Born Free” and “All Summer Long.” He’s always been the life of the party, but it’s only been in the past decade that he’s become a conservative spokesperson and proud ally of Trump.
In a release announcing the lineup, Kid Rock 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?"
Brantley Gilbert
Brantley Gilbert is an American country rock singer. Country music fans are pretty familiar with Gilbert, as his debut album was released in 2009. Listeners likely know him best from his hit songs “Bottoms Up” and “The Weekend.”
Gilbert has been on Fox News programs a few times. In September 2025, following Charlie Kirk’s death, he told Fox News Digital, “My wife sent me back to church and stuff, and I can say Charlie was an encouraging figure in this chapter of my life, and I’m trying to get back into that.” His personal connection to Kirk explains why he was a first choice for this halftime show.
Lee Brice
Lee Brice is a country music singer and songwriter. He’s had his own hits, including “I Don’t Dance” and “Parking Lot Party,” but he’s also written hits for the likes of Tim McGraw, Garth Brooks, and Jason Aldean.
Gabby Barrett
Gabby Barrett is a country music artist who is still fairly new on the scene, but her career has seen a recent rise. She first gained traction in 2018 when she appeared on American Idol, finishing third. She even performed at the White House Christmas Tree Lighting that year, during Trump’s first presidency.
Barrett released her hit “I Hope” in 2019. She won New Female Artist of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2021.
Conservative Responses
Conservatives seem to be excited for the event. Donald Trump Jr. wrote on X, “I’ll take this over Woke Bunny any day of the week.” Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth wrote, “Hey @TPUSA, how can @DeptofWar get in on this?”
This halftime show alternative will air on Sunday, February 8th, around 8 p.m. Eastern Time. Views can stream on Turning Point USA social media channels and partner platforms.
