The Turning Point USA-sponsored halftime show at Super Bowl 60, headlined by Kid Rock along with Brantley Gilbert, Gabby Barrett, and Lee Brice, has sparked widespread reactions. The event, called the All-American Halftime Show, was presented as an alternative to the official halftime entertainment, which starred Bad Bunny with surprise appearances by Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin.
Craig Carton Voices Disapproval of Kid Rock’s Performance
Craig Carton, a well-known NFL analyst from WFAN in New York, shared his candid views about the Turning Point USA show during a broadcast on Monday. Carton recognized the importance of watching the Super Bowl in its entirety but expressed disappointment after seeing clips of Kid Rock’s set online.
“Like I said on the show many times, I didn’t turn the channel once,”
Carton remarked, highlighting his commitment to the event. However, his tone changed after observing the performance:
“And I got to be honest, I love country music, and I like Kid Rock,”
he admitted.
“That was embarrassing, what Kid Rock did. He didn’t sing a single song.”
Carton’s co-host suggested that Kid Rock appeared to lip-sync parts of his performance, a point Carton agreed with, adding,
“By the way, he didn’t even try to lip-synch it.”
Further describing the show, Carton noted:
“He, like, pretended to have the mic and then the mic was over here away from his body,”
pointing to the side. He continued,
“And he’s still singing. And I like Kid Rock a lot. I love country music like you do. I know a lot of people watched it, it was successful, 5 million people streamed or whatever. I don’t know, man. Not great.”
Viewership Numbers and Organizational Background
The Turning Point USA halftime performance reportedly attracted around 5 million viewers. In stark contrast, the official Super Bowl 60 halftime show featuring Bad Bunny is estimated to have drawn 135.4 million viewers. Turning Point USA, the conservative organization behind the alternative halftime event, was founded by the late Charlie Kirk and is now led by his widow, Erika Kirk.
Reception and Future Implications for Alternative Halftime Shows
The All-American Halftime Show did not receive strong praise following its broadcast, with many commentators focusing on the concerns around Kid Rock’s live singing ability during the performance. Speculation about lip-syncing further stirred criticism, highlighting the challenges facing alternative Super Bowl halftime events attempting to compete with the mainstream production values and viewership of the official show.
"I did see some videos online from the TPUSA-Kid Rock one. I got to be honest, I love country music and I like Kid Rock. That was embarrassing what Kid Rock did. He didn’t sing a single song!" – Craig Carton pic.twitter.com/D2elRjmPr9
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 9, 2026
