Several artists, including Ludacris and Shinedown, have withdrawn from the "Rock the Country" music festival, an event organized by Kid Rock. The festival, which some observers have associated with the MAGA movement, has been scheduled to visit eight cities across the United States.
Festival Background
The "Rock the Country" festival is organized by Kid Rock and features a rotating lineup of rock and country artists. The event has included political commentary, such as Gavin Adcock criticizing Joe Biden on stage in 2024, and a recorded video introduction from former President Trump for Kid Rock's performance in a previous year. Despite these elements, the event is not explicitly categorized as a political gathering.
Ludacris's Withdrawal
Rapper Ludacris's name initially appeared on the festival's lineup poster on a Monday but was subsequently removed by Friday of the same week. Representatives for "Rock the Country" confirmed Ludacris's departure.
A representative for Ludacris stated that his appearance on the lineup was a "mix-up" and that "lines got crossed and he wasn't supposed to be on there."
Shinedown's Departure and Related Comments
Shinedown announced their withdrawal from the festival, stating their decision was based on their purpose to unite people through music. The band's statement, issued via Instagram, read:
"Shinedown is everyone's band. We feel that we have been given a platform to bring all people together through the power of music and song. Our band's purpose is to unite, not divide. With that in mind, we have made the decision that we will not be playing the Rock the Country festival. We know this decision will create differences of opinion. But we do not want to participate in something we believe will create further division."
This decision followed comments made by Shinedown's drummer, Barry Kerch, regarding Ludacris's earlier withdrawal. Speaking on The Vinyl Road podcast, Kerch stated he "had no idea this was Kid Rock's thing" and that he did not care about the politics, focusing on the music. He described Ludacris's exit as "silly" and labeled him a "coward" for not "sticking it out."
Following Shinedown's withdrawal, the Anderson, South Carolina date of the festival, where the band had been scheduled to perform, was removed from the event's website.
Other Artist Withdrawals
In addition to Ludacris and Shinedown, country artists Morgan Wade and Carter Faith also withdrew from the "Rock the Country" festival. No public comments were made by their representatives regarding their reasons for withdrawal.
Remaining Lineup
Nelly remains a headliner for the festival. He previously performed at a "Rock The Country" inaugural tour event in 2024 and at President Trump's inauguration. Nelly has defended his participation in the Trump event, citing his family's military background, patriotism, and respect for the office of president. Other artists confirmed for various dates across the festival tour include Creed, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Danny Worsnop, Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Jelly Roll, and Brooks & Dunn.