Band Shinedown has withdrawn from this summer’s Rock the Country festival, distancing from an event that has increasingly drawn scrutiny for its ties to right-wing politics and the MAGA movement. The band announced the decision on Wednesday in a social media statement, saying their values no longer align with the festival’s direction.
“Our band’s purpose is to unite, not divide,” Shinedown wrote. “We know this decision will create differences of opinion, but we do not want to participate in something we believe will create further division.”
Shinedown is the latest artist to exit the touring festival, which is headlined by Kid Rock, a key investor and public face of the event. Ludacris, Morgan Wade, and Carter Faith have also pulled out in recent weeks, signaling growing unease among performers over the festival’s political associations.
Rock the Country is scheduled as a series of two-night events across multiple U.S. cities this spring and summer. While organizers have not formally branded the festival as political, its affiliations have become increasingly difficult to ignore. Kid Rock, a vocal supporter of Donald Trump, has frequently blended political messaging into his live shows, and the festival’s past editions have featured moments that blurred the line between music event and political rally.
In 2024, Rolling Stone reported that artist Gavin Adcock used his Rock the Country set to attack then-President Joe Biden, while Trump introduced Kid Rock at concerts via pre-recorded video messages. Adcock is once again listed as a top-billed performer for the 2026 edition. This year’s promotional artwork describes Rock the Country as “A Festival for the People” and emphasizes that it is “Celebrating 250 Years of Freedom.”
Shinedown’s departure adds to the uncertainty surrounding the festival’s lineup. Creed’s name has also raised questions after the band appeared inconsistently across the festival’s website. Although Creed is still listed on the lineup page, a representative for the band told Rolling Stone they had not been informed of any changes. “I have not been told anything,” the rep said, declining to offer further details.
Confusion has also surrounded the festival’s Anderson, South Carolina, stop, which was officially canceled earlier this week due to what organizers described as “unforeseen circumstances.” Shinedown and Creed had been scheduled to perform on that date, alongside Ludacris, Gretchen Wilson, and Lakeview, all of whom have since disappeared from the festival’s website. Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns said in a statement that officials are “already planning additional major events” and remain committed to bringing “high-quality arts and entertainment” to the area.
If the remaining dates proceed as planned, Rock the Country will still feature a heavyweight country lineup, including Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Jelly Roll, Brooks & Dunn, Miranda Lambert, Hank Williams Jr., and Kid Rock himself.
Shinedown’s decision marks a notable moment for a band that has historically avoided overt political alignment. Their most recent album, Planet Zero, was released in 2022, followed by a series of standalone singles last year, including November’s “Searchlight.” In stepping away from Rock the Country, the group appears to be drawing a clear line around where, and with whom, they are willing to perform.
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