After facing significant criticism for his performance at the Turning Point USA All-American Halftime Show during the Super Bowl, Kid Rock, whose real name is Robert James Ritchie, defended his actions in a recent interview.
The musician, known for his controversial views and strong political affiliations, was headlining the event in place of Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny, who performed at the official halftime show.
The show, which took place on February 8, 2026, lasted for 35 minutes – far longer than Bad Bunny’s much shorter set. It was filmed in Atlanta and broadcast during the Super Bowl, attracting significant attention. Many viewers took to social media to mock the performance, accusing Kid Rockof lip-syncing. However, the musician denies these accusations.
Kid Rock addresses syncing issues
During an appearance on Fox News’s The Ingraham Angle, Kid Rock clarified that there was no lip-syncing involved. Instead, he explained that the performance was “out of sync” due to technical difficulties.
He attributed this issue to his energetic stage movements, saying, “I’m jumping around the stage like a rabid monkey, rapping my song, and I’m taking breaths, and my DJ is filling in the other parts of it.”
He also added that he had mentioned to the production team that the sync was “off” and they tried to fix it, but it was challenging given the nature of the performance.
In his defense, Kid Rock stated, “It was just a syncing issue that they had, and I know they tried to get it right. It was very difficult.” His explanation suggested that the performance had been pre-recorded, confirming the suspicion of many viewers that it wasn’t a live performance.
Public reaction and comparisons to Bad Bunny
Kid Rock’s halftime show, which also featured performers like Brantley Gilbert, Gabby Barrett, and Lee Brice, garnered up to 6.1 million viewers. In contrast, Bad Bunny’s performance, which made history as the first all-Spanish Super Bowl halftime show, attracted over 100 million viewers.
The event stirred up political tensions, as Kid Rock has been an outspoken supporter of conservative causes and criticized Bad Bunny’s show before the event.
Critics like country artists Kacey Musgraves and Zach Bryan took jabs at Kid Rock’s performance. Musgraves remarked that Bad Bunny’s show made her feel “more proudly American than anything Kid Rock has ever done.”
Bryan, on Instagram, shared a post humorously showing a person trying to avoid watching Kid Rock while Bad Bunny’s performance was on in the background.
Despite the backlash, Kid Rock remains resolute in his belief that the All-American Halftime Show was a celebration of conservative American values. As he put it, “There’s a big portion of this country, like it or not, that’s underserved entertainment-wise.”
He also confirmed that Turning Point USA plans to organize another similar show for 2027.