Shinedown Drops Out of Kid Rock’s ‘Rock the Country’ Tour, Citing Fears of “Further Division”
Rock band Shinedown has withdrawn from Kid Rock’s upcoming “Rock the Country” tour, citing concerns that participating would “create further division” amid growing controversy surrounding the event.
The move comes as Kid Rock prepares to headline Turning Point USA’s Super Bowl–weekend alternative event, billed as “The All-American Halftime Show.” His high-profile role with the conservative group has sparked renewed backlash, which is now spilling into his touring plans.
In a statement released Friday, Shinedown said the decision was rooted in the band’s belief that music should bring people together, not deepen political or cultural divides.
“SHINEDOWN is everyone’s band,” the group wrote. “We feel that we have been given a platform to bring all people together through the power of music and song. We have one BOSS, and it is everyone in the audience. 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.”
The band acknowledged that the choice would not be universally popular but said it stood by the decision.
“We know this decision will create differences of opinion,” the statement continued. “But we do not want to participate in something we believe will create further division. And to our fans, thank you for supporting and believing in us. We love and appreciate you always.”
Shinedown is not the only act to distance itself from the tour. Rolling Stone previously reported that Morgan Wade and Carter Faith also dropped out of the event.
The “Rock the Country” tour is scheduled to kick off May 1 in Bellville, Texas, and still lists a heavyweight lineup that includes Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Jelly Roll, Miranda Lambert, and Nelly, among others.
Meanwhile, confusion has surrounded the tour’s promotional materials. After Ludacris appeared on an early tour poster, his representative told Rolling Stone that the listing was a mistake, saying it was “a mix-up” and that he was never intended to be part of the tour.
As Kid Rock’s political associations continue to draw scrutiny, the departures highlight growing tensions within the music industry over artists’ roles in highly polarized cultural and political spaces — and whether staying on the bill risks alienating fans rather than uniting them.
