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Tom Morello mocks clip of Kid Rock performing to sparse audience at ‘All-American Halftime Show’
Music•February 13, 2026 at 11:23 AMNational

Tom Morello mocks clip of Kid Rock performing to sparse audience at ‘All-American Halftime Show’

By Laura Molloy•NME Music News

“America is finally great again" The post Tom Morello mocks clip of Kid Rock performing to sparse audience at ‘All-American Halftime Show’ appeared first on NME.

Tom Morello has mocked a clip of Kid Rock performing at the ‘All-American Halftime Show’.

The performance took place on Sunday night (February 8), as an alternative to the Super Bowl LX halftime show, which was headlined by Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, and featured appearances from Pedro Pascal, Cardi B, Jessica Alba, Karol G, Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin.

Dubbed the ‘All-American Halftime Show’, the event was organised by Turning Point USA – the non-profit founded by the late Charlie Kirk, and saw performances from Kid Rock and country artists Lee Brice, Brantley Gilbert and Gabby Barrett.

On Wednesday (February 11), Morello took to X to repost a clip of Kid Rock’s performance, which appears to be in front of a very sparse crowd. At one point, he signals for them to wave their arms to the beat of the song, but no one complies.

“America is finally great again,” Morello wrote sarcastically alongside the clip. “Thank you.”

It’s unclear if the clip is from the actual performance or if it is footage from a rehearsal.

One day before Morello’s barbed post, Kid Rock insisted that he wasn’t lip-syncing during the set, but was rather “out of sync” with the DJ, after clips emerged that appeared to show his mouth being massively out of sync with what was being heard on the broadcast.

While some were supportive of the live show, filling the YouTube comment section with emojis of the American flag, others, including country stars Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves were among those taking a swipe at the gig, and celebrating the performance from Bad Bunny instead.

The day before the halftime show, it was also reported that Kid Rock’s ‘Rock The Country’ festival would no longer be taking place in South Carolina due to Shinedown pulling out of the line-up.

Bad Bunny’s halftime show has been ranked as the fourth biggest in Super Bowl history as the musician pulled in 128.2million viewers.

It comes after months of controversy, ever since he was first announced as the headliner back in September. He came under personal attack from the MAGA movement, and Donald Trump called the decision to have him headline “crazy”, claiming that he had “never heard” of him.

One of the President’s advisors confirmed that ICE would be present at the performance– which carried added poignancy as Bad Bunny previously announced that he would not be touring the US due to fears over ICE agents raiding the concerts.

During the show, Bad Bunny delivered a poignant message saying: “God bless America”, before listing the nations of Central, South and North America as dancers carried their flags.

A billboard message also read: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love”, and he held a football at the end of the segment with the message: “Together, We Are America.”

His message came after Trump hit out at the performance, branding it a “slap in the face” for America.

Elsewhere, Morello has been a strong critic of Trump’s immigration stance, and last month performed a slew of hits from Rage Against The Machine and Audioslave as he led an ICE protest show in Minneapolis.

The lunchtime show went down at the city’s legendary First Avenue venue on Friday (January 30), which was headlined by an unannounced appearance from Bruce Springsteen, who gave a live debut to his new anti-ICE song ‘Streets Of Minneapolis’.

The post Tom Morello mocks clip of Kid Rock performing to sparse audience at ‘All-American Halftime Show’ appeared first on NME.

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