Rock veterans Shinedown announced on Friday (Feb. 6) that they have officially withdrawn from the upcoming Rock the Country festival circuit following a wave of feedback from their fanbase.
“Shinedown belongs to everyone. We believe our platform exists to bridge divides through the universal language of music,” the band shared in a public statement via social media. The group emphasized their commitment to their listeners, stating, “We answer to one boss: our audience. Our mission is to foster unity, not discord. In light of that, we have decided to step down from the Rock the Country lineup.”
The band further acknowledged the complexity of the situation, adding, “We realize this choice will spark various opinions, but we refuse to participate in an environment that we feel could deepen existing social divisions.”
Shinedown was originally slated to headline the Anderson, South Carolina, leg of the tour on July 25-26. Their names have since been scrubbed from the official event billing, though the weekend still features performances by Creed and Brantley Gilbert.
The “Planet Zero” rockers are the latest in a series of artists to distance themselves from the event, joining Carter Faith and Morgan Wade in their exit. Rapper Ludacris was also briefly linked to the festival on early promotional materials, though his representatives later clarified that he was never actually confirmed for the roster.
The Rock the Country tour is scheduled to visit seven cities, including stops in Ocala, Florida, and Ashland, Kentucky. The remaining lineup features a heavy-hitting list of country and rock talent, including Jelly Roll, Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, and Hank Williams Jr. The tour is set to commence on May 1-2 in Belleville, Texas.
While festival organizers have avoided explicit political branding, the event has drawn scrutiny due to the vocal political stances of some headliners. Performers like Kid Rock and Jason Aldean are prominent supporters of Donald Trump. Furthermore, both Kid Rock and Brantley Gilbert are scheduled to appear in a Turning Point USA “All-American” alternative halftime show, which is being marketed as a counter-program to the official Super Bowl Halftime Show featuring Bad Bunny.
