Turning Point USA’s rationale for organizing the All-American Halftime Show is rooted in cultural and political counterprogramming. The event is a direct response to the NFL’s selection of Bad Bunny — a Puerto Rican artist who performs primarily in Spanish — as the headliner for Super Bowl LX on February 8, 2026.
TPUSA frames its show as a rejection of so-called “woke entertainment” and a pushback against the NFL’s embrace of global, multilingual performers. Their messaging emphasizes “faith, family, and freedom” as core American values.
The group’s online survey includes genre options like “Anything in English” — a pointed jab at Bad Bunny’s Spanish-language catalog. Despite the fact that Bad Bunny is a U.S. citizen (Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory), TPUSA’s framing implies a preference for performers who embody a more traditional, English-speaking, and culturally conservative image of America. The unspoken message: a celebration of whiteness — even if they throw in a Black entertainer in need of a check. (I hear Gloria Gaynor and Snoop Dogg are available.)
The announcement follows backlash from conservative figures like Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who criticized Bad Bunny’s selection and raised unfounded concerns about immigration enforcement at the Super Bowl. For TPUSA, this isn’t just entertainment — it’s a statement. The group is leveraging the Super Bowl’s massive visibility to promote a vision of American culture that aligns with its political base: a kind of cultural reclamation dressed up as patriotism.
TPUSA’s push comes as the organization doubles down on the same values Charlie Kirk was criticized for in life — after his death only intensifying its effort to define who gets to represent “real” America.
As of now, no official performers have been confirmed for TPUSA’s All-American Halftime Show, set to air as counterprogramming during Super Bowl LX.
Rumored and speculated acts include:
- Creed — The early-2000s post-grunge band is reportedly a top contender, especially after conservative commentator Jack Posobiec publicly endorsed them.
- Lee Greenwood — Best known for “God Bless the U.S.A.,” he’s been floated by House Speaker Mike Johnson as a more “appropriate” alternative to the NFL’s headliner. (Does anyone really want Mike Johnson — the self-proclaimed protector of the Epstein files — defining “appropriate”?)
- Kid Rock — Recently honored Charlie Kirk with a tribute song, Echoes of a Silent Voice.
- Ted Nugent — The hard rock guitarist and conservative firebrand remains a vocal advocate for gun rights and hunting culture.
- Jason Aldean — His 2023 single “Try That in a Small Town” drew backlash for lyrics and imagery critics called racially charged. The video was filmed at a courthouse tied to historical lynchings.
TPUSA is also polling viewers on preferred genres, offering options like Country, Classic Rock, Americana, Worship, Pop, Hip-Hop, and the telling “Anything in English.”
What makes this event both profoundly American and deeply anti-American is that its very existence is built on opposition — against another American, Bad Bunny. The criticism of Spanish-language music (and by extension, Spanish-speaking people) combined with a lineup of artists who have proudly worn their bigotry on their sleeves reveals exactly what kind of “values” TPUSA wants to celebrate.
You may notice that nearly every rumored performer — except for Gloria Gaynor, my tongue-in-cheek suggestion — is a white man. At some point, someone within TPUSA will surely notice the optics and go searching for a “DEI-friendly” token to help sell their version of “American values.”
TPUSA has not addressed gender representation, and its “faith, family, and freedom” branding has leaned heavily toward male, conservative icons.
The NFL, for its part, said Bad Bunny was chosen because he represents “the global energy and cultural vibrancy that define today’s music scene.”
Meanwhile, TPUSA and the MAGA crowd see his selection as another example of “woke entertainment” — and their English-only halftime show will make perfectly clear what they stand for. With any luck, Gloria Gaynor might still get to belt out “I Will Survive.”
This post originally appeared on Medium and is edited and republished with author's permission. Read more of William Spivey's work on Medium. And if you dig his words, buy the man a coffee.