Shinedown withdraws from controversial festival hosted by Kid Rock
Shinedown has decided to withdraw from the Rock the Country festival, a traveling event organized by Kid Rock, citing concerns that the festival will only serve to further divide people. Although the festival is not explicitly political, President Donald Trump made an appearance via video link to introduce Kid Rock’s performance at the festival in 2025. Additionally, conservative commentator Tucker Carlson has introduced Kid Rock at previous shows during the festival in 2024.
After facing criticism for its lineup announcement in January, the festival saw rapper Ludacris pull out from the event, with his representative explaining that Ludacris’ inclusion was a mistake. Following suit, rock band Shinedown announced their decision to withdraw from the festival, stating that their band’s purpose is to bring people together through the power of music and song.
In their statement, Shinedown expressed that they view themselves as a band for everyone and believe that music has the ability to unite rather than divide. With this principle in mind, they made the difficult decision not to participate in the Rock the Country festival. They acknowledged that their choice may lead to differing opinions but emphasized their commitment to not being a part of anything that promotes division.
Shinedown concluded their statement by thanking their fans for their support and belief in the band. While Rock the Country does feature mainstream artists like Jelly Roll, who recently won two Grammys, the festival also includes other notable acts such as Jason Aldean, Creed, Blake Shelton, Hank Williams Jr, Miranda Lambert, Brooks and Dunn, Nelly, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Ella Langley.
One interesting moment came at the red carpet following his Grammy win, when Jelly Roll declined to comment on recent actions by ICE in the US, stating that people should not be interested in his opinion and referring to himself as a “dumb redneck.” Despite the presence of renowned acts on the lineup, Shinedown’s decision to withdraw highlights their commitment to using their platform for unity rather than contributing to further division in society.