Turning Point USA’s YouTube live stream for their alternate All-American Halftime Show was marked by a lackluster performance from several musical acts. The event, which aimed to evoke patriotism and outrage over Bad Bunny’s selection as the Super Bowl halftime performer, ultimately fell flat.
The show started with Brantley Gilbert’s underwhelming solo acoustic rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” His hip-hop verse in “Dirt Road Anthem” was the only moment that elicited a strong reaction. The rest of the performances were described as half-hearted and lacking emotional resonance.
Kid Rock, who took the stage to perform his 30-year-old anthem “Bawitdaba,” stopped mid-song and lip-synced to a backing track, leaving many in attendance confused. The evening’s only truly unexpected moment came when a classical duo played a lengthy string interlude.
In contrast, Bad Bunny’s official Super Bowl halftime show was met with a mixed response from viewers. While some criticized the performance as not being American enough, others praised its celebration of diversity and the American dream.
Turning Point USA leader Ben Shapiro defended Bad Bunny, saying “the only thing more powerful than hate is love.” However, Trump responded quickly to the broadcast, slamming it as quickly as possible on Truth Social.
The event ended with a QR code encouraging viewers to donate more money to Turning Point USA. The show’s message seemed to fall flat with 19 million people tuning out in disappointment.
Source: https://variety.com/2026/music/columns/bad-bunny-kid-rock-turning-point-super-bowl-1236656506