Turning Point USA's bid for cultural relevance -- and more money -- just couldn't compete with Bad Bunny

[marmar]

Kid Rock’s alternative Super Bowl halftime show was just boring
Turning Point USA's bid for cultural relevance — and more money — just couldn't compete with Bad Bunny

By Amanda Marcotte
Senior Writer
Published February 9, 2026 9:00AM (EST)


(Salon) Perhaps it’s a sign that I am an empathy-poisoned liberal, but it was hard to choke back the pity watching the alternative halftime show aired by Turning Point USA during Sunday’s Super Bowl game. Despite having months to book and organize an event that was supposed to draw millions away from the real deal, TPUSA couldn’t even pack the small space for audience members on the soundstage — not a stadium, arena, theater or even a club — they rented for the occasion. The promise of seeing the washed-up Kid Rock in an intimate setting appears to thrill no one. Organizers declared that huge numbers of Americans would prefer this to the actual halftime show, but the anemic audience present for the taping suggested they couldn’t get anyone who isn’t a paid TPUSA staff member.

....(snip)....

If so, it didn’t work. While the number of people watching on YouTube peaked at 6.1 million, according to the New York Times — a respectable number for barely-known country musicians and a haggard former rock star like Kid Rock — it was less than 6/100th of the predicted audience for the actual Super Bowl halftime show, which drew well over 133 million in 2025. Brantley Gilbert, Gabby Barrett and Lee Brice all turned in adequate country sets that would be perfectly passable as live entertainment at your local barbecue joint. Unfortunately for them, the live chat on YouTube suggested the fans weren’t tuning in for the music, but out of a sense of duty to their MAGA tribe. Commenters referenced Jesus, TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk, the American flag and hating Bad Bunny — but no one seemed to have much to say about the music or the performances. People with actual opinions of the show were those who popped in to troll, offering variations of “this sucks” and “pathetic.” As for actual fans of TPUSA, one got the impression many were watching and commenting with the sound off.

Things got even weirder when it came to the headliner. Mr. Rock himself was presumably a competent performer at some point in his life, and he can certainly jump around more than most Republican voters his age. But as the counterpoint to Bad Bunny, one of the most popular musicians and dynamic performers in the world, his set was a tough hang. Kid Rock didn’t really bother to lip sync while bouncing around half-heartedly to “Bawitdaba,” his breakthrough single from 1999. Somehow, that was still the least bad part of his brief show. He did one more song under his real name, Robert Ritchie, about how he loves Jesus. His performance wasn’t even amusingly bad. It was the worst thing you can be in music: boring.

....(snip)....

On the other hand, TPUSA’s night was doomed from the get-go. Beyond snagging Kid Rock as a last-minute salvation, the show had no marketing aside from “Watch this to trigger the liberals.” The irony is that it could turn out to not have been worth the hassle of booking Kid Rock in the first place. Andrew Kolvet, who serves as the organization’s spokesman and now hosts Charlie Kirk’s podcast, announced on X that the show would “celebrate faith, family, and freedom.” In response, a sea of users reminded him of Kid Rock’s 2001 song “Cool Daddy Cool,” which instead celebrates raping teenage girls. “Young ladies, young ladies / I like ’em underage / See some say that’s statutory / But I say that’s mandatory,” he declares, acknowledging with the word “statutory” that this is, in fact, rape. ......................(more)

https://www.salon.com/2026/02/09/kid-rocks-alt-super-bowl-halftime-show-was-just-boring/

[sop]

1. TPUSA says their artists are more American and more Christian than Bad Bunny.

Bad Bunny was born in Puerto Rico and is an American citizen, and he was raised Christian and grew up singing in church.

[mwmisses4289]

9. But...but...but...he speaks Spanish! He don't speak English!

Last edited Mon Feb 9, 2026, 12:09 PM - Edit history (1)

He ain't from murika!!
(So say magas who don't know geography and are poorly educated)

[cloudbase]

19. They probably think he speake Puerto Rican.

Living in Texas, I've actually heard people say that Mexicans speak Mexican.

[mwmisses4289]

20. Yeah. Amazing how mind-boggling stupid some texans can be.

A young friend of mine was shocked the first time she encountered such stupidity- a classmate of hers believed Mexico was part of the u.s. "because it was on the map."

[Jbraybarten]

2. it never would compete.

[Lovie777]

3. These people give Christians a bad name..................

[Maru Kitteh]

15. Christian cruelty has a long and storied history. It is human history, like all

religious history. Something about our species seems incapable of taking in that which is good without turning it around and finding a way of using it in malice.

[AllaN01Bear]

17. ding this.

[Greybnk48]

4. My daughter showed me a few seconds of their performance on her phone.

Some scruffy looking white beardos in a dark room with glaring light pointing at the stage. It was actually ugly, or like they were performing in as smallish bar somewhere. Sad.

[Kid Berwyn]

5. Arts and Culture are a real joy to read...

“ The promise of seeing the washed-up Kid Rock in an intimate setting appears to thrill no one.”

[BattleRow]

10. That Rock wore away long ago,no Kidding..

[Srkdqltr]

6. They should have learned from the rebuttal to the State of the Union. They never go well.

[kwolf68]

7. Milli Rob Ritchie

Lip synched his performance. A total poser.

That's the best you guys have? Not only is he bad, but he can't even be bad live. He was bad AND lip synched. As a musician myself I can't comprehend how THIS is the best the Republicans can come up with.

There isn't ANYONE else with more talent you couldn't find?

[mwmisses4289]

11. Any one with real talent either said "thanks, but no thanks",

"Hell, no" or fell off a chair laughing before politely declining.

[MW67]

21. Did you see who they chose as

President? Guess that is the best they have to offer, who knew

[orangecrush]

8. ....

[Midnight Writer]

12. The punch line is that Turning Point is already planning to do the alternative show again next year.

They don't even know who is performing at next year's halftime show, but whoever it is, they're against them because of their politics.

Cult behavior.

[CaptainTruth]

13. It's more like Toilet Paper USA

[paleotn]

14. Robert James Ritchie has never been terrible competent in his entire life.

He's was and is a musical rip off artist at best. A pathetic excuse. That sounds quite Republican and maga, doesn't it.

[berksdem]

16. I actually watched it

for the humor and it did not disappoint. Jorts and Jesus saves!!!!

[Figarosmom]

18. And MAGAs were putting kid rock on

Every device they had at the same time to boost the numbers. How pathetic.

[Dulcinea]

22. TPUSA may not survive another year.

Don't cults usually die when their cult leader does? Good riddance!