Kid Rock has canceled the Anderson, South Carolina stop of his 2026 Rock The Country festival following a string of artist departures that have thinned the lineup in recent weeks.
The July 25–26 dates in Anderson have officially been scrapped, with the stop no longer appearing on the festival’s website. What was previously promoted as “8 massive shows” is now listed as “7 massive shows.” According to The Post and Courier, Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns said the county was notified of the cancellation on February 5 but was not given a specific reason. Organizers later told Fox Carolina the shows were called off due to “unforeseen circumstances.”
The cancellation comes amid heightened attention surrounding Kid Rock, who recently headlined Turning Point USA’s “All-American Halftime Show” during the Super Bowl. The livestreamed conservative event — which featured Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice and Gabby Barrett — served as alternative programming to Bad Bunny’s official halftime performance.
At the same time, several artists have stepped away from Rock The Country.
SHINEDOWN became the most high-profile act to withdraw, confirming their decision in a public statement shared on Instagram. The band emphasized their commitment to unity, explaining: “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.
“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.
“We know this decision will create differences of opinion. 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.”
Before SHINEDOWN’s exit, LUDACRIS had already been removed from promotional materials, with his team reportedly stating that his inclusion in the lineup was a mistake. Country artists Morgan Wade and Carter Faith also pulled out of the tour, with Wade’s management confirming her departure, while CREED quietly disappeared from the festival’s website without explanation.
Launched in 2024 by Kid Rock — a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump — Rock The Country is billed as a celebration of “community, tradition, and the spirit that’s carried America through 250 years,” aligning with the upcoming U.S. Semiquincentennial.
Despite the South Carolina cancellation and lineup shakeups, the tour is still scheduled to kick off in May in Bellville, Texas. Remaining stops are planned across Georgia, South Dakota, Kentucky, Michigan, Florida and New York, with artists including Kid Rock, Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Jelly Roll, Brooks & Dunn and Miranda Lambert still listed on the bill.
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