Turning Point USA's Alternative Super Bowl Halftime Show Draws Millions

The conservative organization's live-streamed concert featured Kid Rock, Lee Brice, and other artists

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Weeks after Bad Bunny was announced as the performer for the 2026 Super Bowl LX halftime show, the conservative organization Turning Point USA revealed plans for an alternate concert event. The Turning Point USA All-American Halftime Show was live-streamed on Sunday, February 8, and featured performances by Kid Rock, Lee Brice, Brantley Gilbert, and Gabby Barrett. While Turning Point USA's late founder Charlie Kirk's widow Erika did not appear on stage, the new CEO said the show was meant to honor Kirk and offer a pro-America alternative to the official halftime entertainment.

Why it matters

Turning Point USA's decision to host an alternative halftime show sparked controversy, with some criticizing it as a partisan political stunt. However, the organization claimed there was a large audience that wanted a more patriotic and family-friendly option compared to the official halftime show. The event highlighted the ongoing culture wars and competing visions for mainstream entertainment.

The details

The Turning Point USA All-American Halftime Show was live-streamed on the organization's YouTube channel, where it reportedly garnered over 5 million simultaneous viewers. The concert was later reported to have been pre-taped in Atlanta, though Turning Point USA has not confirmed this. The lineup featured several country music artists, including Kid Rock, Lee Brice, Brantley Gilbert, and Gabby Barrett. Erika Kirk, the widow of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, did not appear on stage but said the event was meant to honor her late husband and offer a pro-America alternative to the official halftime show.

  • The Turning Point USA All-American Halftime Show was live-streamed on Sunday, February 8, 2026.
  • Bad Bunny was announced as the performer for the 2026 Super Bowl LX halftime show several weeks prior to the Turning Point USA announcement.

The players

Turning Point USA

A conservative and right-wing organization that hosted the alternative halftime show.

Charlie Kirk

The late founder of Turning Point USA, who was shot and killed at age 31 during a speaking engagement.

Erika Kirk

The widow of Charlie Kirk, who said the alternative halftime show was meant to honor her late husband.

Bad Bunny

The performer announced for the official 2026 Super Bowl LX halftime show.

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What they’re saying

“It's powerful because what Charlie always loved and knew is that he wanted to be in the forefront of the culture war. He would be fist-pumping at this. He would be so stoked. And what better way to honor him than to just get in the middle of this and be able to offer an alternative to families.”

— Erika Kirk, Widow of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk (Fox News)

“For us to be able to provide an alternative that is pro-America, that is just pro-everything, that's not the opposite of what they're putting out there. I don't want to go into details and bash that because there is apparently an audience that wants that, but there's a larger audience that wants ours.”

— Erika Kirk, Widow of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk (Fox News)

What’s next

Turning Point USA has not confirmed whether the halftime show was pre-taped or live, and further details about the production and viewership numbers have yet to be fully revealed.

The takeaway

The Turning Point USA All-American Halftime Show highlighted the ongoing cultural and political divisions in the country, with the conservative organization offering an alternative to the official Super Bowl halftime entertainment that it claimed would better resonate with a 'pro-America' audience.