While the NFL handed the Super Bowl LX halftime stage to Bad Bunny, Turning Point USA built a parallel broadcast that felt like a direct answer to everything the official show wasn’t. And judging by the numbers, a lot of Americans were waiting for it.
TPUSA’s All American Halftime Show exploded online Sunday night, pulling in massive viewership as Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice and Gabby Barrett took the stage for a country driven, faith forward alternative that quickly went viral.
Before the show even kicked off, more than 1.5 million viewers were already locked into Turning Point USA’s YouTube stream. As the night went on, that number reportedly surged past six million simultaneous viewers on YouTube alone, instantly making it one of the most watched independent live music broadcasts of the year.
Kid Rock’s Surprise Cover Became the Night’s Defining Moment
Leading up to the broadcast, Kid Rock hinted during a Fox News appearance that he had something unexpected planned. He promised a stripped down performance centered on songwriting rather than spectacle, teasing that the song would drop on streaming platforms immediately after the show.
He delivered.
Instead of pyrotechnics or political ranting, Kid Rock debuted a deeply personal rendition of Cody Johnson’s chart topping hit “Til You Can’t.” The performance stopped the internet cold when he revealed an added verse he wrote following the death of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
The new lyrics leaned heavily into faith and redemption, pointing listeners toward Jesus Christ and second chances, a message that felt deliberately out of step with the tone of modern halftime shows.
Before performing it, Kid Rock explained that the idea came to him unexpectedly one Sunday morning.
He said the song wouldn’t leave his head and that he felt compelled to write one final verse, believing the song wasn’t finished yet. That moment, he said, became the version the audience heard live.
The performance marked the second time Kid Rock had ever played the reworked song publicly. He first debuted it last November at the Hondo Rodeo Fest after stepping in for Cody Johnson at the last minute when Johnson was forced to cancel due to a ruptured eardrum.
Why TPUSA Built a Counter Halftime Show in the First Place
Turning Point USA announced its alternate halftime broadcast shortly after the NFL revealed Bad Bunny as the headliner for the Apple Music Super Bowl halftime show, a move that immediately stirred backlash due to the rapper’s repeated attacks on President Donald Trump and his immigration policies.
That tension escalated again at the GRAMMY Awards when Bad Bunny took the stage and shouted “ICE out,” earning a standing ovation from Hollywood elites while framing immigration enforcement as inhumane.
For TPUSA and the artists involved, the All American Halftime Show wasn’t about attacking anyone. According to Kid Rock, it was about filling a cultural void.
He explained that a massive segment of the country feels ignored by mainstream entertainment and that the goal was simply to play music for people who love America, football, faith and country music without hostility or hate.
He emphasized that the artists weren’t motivated by anger, but by love for their audience, their country and the music itself.
A Country Heavy Setlist That Felt Intentional
The show leaned unapologetically into country music, something largely absent from official Super Bowl halftime stages for decades.
TPUSA All American Halftime Show Setlist
• Real American – Brantley Gilbert
• Dirt Road Anthem – Brantley Gilbert
• I Hope – Gabby Barrett
• The Good Ones – Gabby Barrett
• Drinking Class – Lee Brice
• Country Nowadays – Lee Brice
• Hard To Love – Lee Brice
• Bawitdaba – Kid Rock
• Til You Can’t – Kid Rock covering Cody Johnson
Brantley Gilbert Addressed the Backlash Head On
After TPUSA announced the lineup, Brantley Gilbert felt compelled to respond to critics questioning why he would participate.
In a lengthy statement, Gilbert shared his background as a Georgia songwriter, recovering addict and Christian father of three. He explained that his music has always been about redemption and hope, and that his love for the country includes honoring the people who defend it.
Gilbert said he took pride in bringing country music back into the halftime conversation, even if it wasn’t on the NFL’s official stage. More importantly, he said he imagined his kids watching him perform during the biggest football game of the year and knew it was something he couldn’t pass up.
He closed with a message of unity, saying his prayer is that America stands together rather than tearing itself apart.
Lee Brice Made It Clear This Wasn’t About Bad Bunny
Lee Brice also addressed speculation that the TPUSA show was a protest against the NFL’s halftime choice.
He said he had no personal issue with Bad Bunny and acknowledged his success, but explained that when he was invited to participate in something he believed in, the decision was easy.
Brice framed the event as a tribute to Charlie Kirk’s belief that everyone deserves a microphone and a platform. For him, it was about patriotism, music and gratitude for the opportunity to perform.
The Verdict
Whether the media likes it or not, the numbers don’t lie.
TPUSA’s All American Halftime Show proved that millions of Americans are hungry for entertainment that reflects their values without apology. While the NFL went global and ideological, Turning Point USA went local, country and faith centered.
And judging by the response, that message landed loud and clear.
