Kid Rock's All-American Halftime Show Trails Puppy Bowl in Ratings

Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance attracted over 128 million viewers, while Kid Rock's event drew just 6.1 million on YouTube.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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During Super Bowl weekend, viewers had multiple entertainment options beyond the official halftime show featuring Bad Bunny, which attracted 128.2 million viewers. Kid Rock's conservative-leaning "All-American" halftime event, produced in partnership with Turning Point USA, only managed to draw 6.1 million YouTube viewers, while the Puppy Bowl reached 15.3 million viewers across various platforms.

Why it matters

The stark contrast in viewership between the high-profile Super Bowl halftime show, the politically-charged All-American event, and the feel-good Puppy Bowl highlights the shifting entertainment preferences of modern audiences. It also underscores the challenges facing artists like Kid Rock, who have taken more partisan political stances, in maintaining broad appeal.

The details

Bad Bunny's official Super Bowl halftime performance was a massive success, positioning it among the most-watched halftime shows ever. In contrast, Kid Rock's All-American halftime show, which featured the musician alongside country stars Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett, only managed to pull in 6.1 million viewers on YouTube. The event was later criticized for potential lip-syncing issues, with Kid Rock acknowledging it was not truly live as initially advertised.

  • The Puppy Bowl aired on Sunday, February 8, 2026.
  • The Super Bowl between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots took place on February 9, 2026.

The players

Bad Bunny

A Puerto Rican hip-hop artist who headlined the official 2026 Super Bowl halftime show, attracting 128.2 million viewers.

Kid Rock

A 55-year-old musician who produced the conservative-leaning "All-American" halftime event in partnership with Turning Point USA, which drew 6.1 million YouTube viewers.

Turning Point USA

A conservative non-profit organization that co-produced Kid Rock's All-American halftime show.

Puppy Bowl

Animal Planet's annual alternative to Super Bowl coverage, featuring rescue dogs playing in a miniature stadium, which attracted 15.3 million viewers.

Joseph Boyle

The Head of Content at the Discovery Channel, who praised the Puppy Bowl's strong performance.

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What they’re saying

“This year's Puppy Bowl delivered its strongest performance in nearly a decade, and its success across linear and streaming highlights our unique ability to unite audiences around content that feels good and does good.”

— Joseph Boyle, Head of Content, Discovery Channel (themirror.com)

The takeaway

The stark contrast in viewership between the high-profile Super Bowl halftime show, the politically-charged All-American event, and the feel-good Puppy Bowl underscores the shifting entertainment preferences of modern audiences. It also highlights the challenges facing artists like Kid Rock, who have taken more partisan political stances, in maintaining broad appeal.