Turning Point USA is launching its own high-energy halftime spectacle, presenting it as a patriotic alternative for viewers who want a different tone from the official Super Bowl broadcast. The organization says the event is designed around faith, family, and freedom, and will showcase a lineup filled with well-known American performers.
Set to air around 8 p.m. ET on February 8, “The All-American Halftime Show” will feature Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett.
“We’re approaching this show like David and Goliath,” Kid Rock said in a statement. “Competing with the pro football machine and a global pop superstar is almost impossible…or is it?”
Conservative Backlash Fuels Alternate Broadcast
The rival production will run opposite the official halftime show headlined by Latin star Bad Bunny, a choice that immediately triggered criticism among conservatives. With the contrasting themes of the two broadcasts, the debate around this year’s performance has grown louder by the week.
“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,” Rock said.
TPUSA spokesperson Andrew Kolvet said the alternate broadcast was created to give families a different option on game night. He described the show as more intimate than a stadium spectacle, emphasizing that it will place viewers close to the performers.
“And unlike a massive stadium show where the action can feel distant, this will be an immersive, high-energy experience that lets the viewer up close and personal,” Kolvet said.
“‘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,” he said. “… We can’t wait to watch the incredible show they’re about to put on. We know millions around the country will be watching too.”
Super Bowl Matchup Adds Fuel to the Debate
The February 8 matchup will see the New England Patriots face the Seattle Seahawks. Meanwhile, Bad Bunny’s halftime selection has become a political flashpoint, drawing criticism from several high-profile figures including former President Donald Trump.
“I don’t know who he is,” Trump said last fall. “I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s crazy. And then they blame it on some promoter they hired to pick up entertainment. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.”
Bad Bunny’s Past Comments Resurface
Last year, Bad Bunny said he avoided scheduling U.S. tour dates due to concerns that Latino fans might face immigration enforcement outside concert venues.
“But there was the issue of — like, f—ing ICE could be outside [my concert]. And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about,” he told i-D Magazine in an interview published in September.
Trump later announced he would skip the game entirely, criticizing the performers and calling the California location too far.
More Controversy Ahead of Kickoff
Before the game begins, Green Day is slated to perform, a choice that stirred additional tension due to frontman Billie Joe Armstrong’s long-standing criticism of Trump.
Turning Point USA’s halftime broadcast will stream across YouTube, X, and Rumble. It will also air on CHARGE!, a Sinclair-owned OTT channel available through Samsung Plus, YouTube TV, Hulu, and Sling. Additional partners include Daily Wire+, Real America’s Voice, One America News Network, and others.
