Shinedown leaves Kid Rock’s ‘Rock The Country’ Festival following drummer’s criticism
SHINEDOWN recently made headlines by pulling out of the upcoming Rock The Country festival organized by Kid Rock. This decision comes in the wake of drummer Barry Kerch’s public criticism of Ludacris for dropping out of the same festival.
The 2026 edition of the Rock The Country festival features headliners Kid Rock and Jason Aldean, alongside other artists like CREED, Brantley Gilbert, Gavin Adcock, and Nelly. SHINEDOWN was supposed to perform at the Anderson, South Carolina stop on July 26 of the traveling event that spans various locations across the country.
In a social media announcement, SHINEDOWN explained their decision to withdraw from the festival, stating that their band’s mission is to bring people together through their music and songs. They emphasized unity over division and did not want to participate in an event that could potentially create further discord among their fans.
Barry Kerch, the drummer of SHINEDOWN, spoke out about the backlash they faced after agreeing to perform at Rock The Country. While the festival is not officially political, it garnered political associations that sparked intense reactions online. Kerch expressed that despite the political noise surrounding the event, his primary focus remained on the music and delivering a great show to the audience.
Kerch also addressed the possibility of declining future festival slots based on political ties or negative fan reactions. He highlighted that SHINEDOWN’s decisions are made collectively as a band and that while he personally prefers to stay away from politics, the band operates as a democracy when it comes to such choices.
Overall, SHINEDOWN’s withdrawal from Rock The Country signifies their commitment to their values of inclusivity and unity. By prioritizing the unifying power of music, they aim to steer clear of events that could potentially sow division among their fans. While the decision may spark differing opinions, SHINEDOWN remains steadfast in their dedication to their audience and the values they aim to uphold as a band.