The 2026 Super Bowl sparked debate not just on the field but off it, as Turning Point USA staged its own “All-American Halftime Show” alongside the official NFL broadcast. Designed to promote traditional American values, the event featured country and country-rock stars including Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Gabby Barrett, and Lee Brice.
Lee Brice’s performance drew particular attention. Before performing his new song It Ain’t Easy Being Country In This Country Nowadays, he referenced TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk, saying the organization “gave people microphones so they could say what’s on their minds,” framing his song as a personal statement about cultural and political frustrations. The lyrics emphasized faith, small-town values, and a sense of alienation in modern America.
The show functioned as an alternative to the NFL’s official halftime, prioritizing message over production scale. Reactions were divided: supporters praised Brice’s candor, while critics saw it as politically charged. The event highlighted how music, identity, and ideology increasingly intersect, with Brice’s remarks capturing the tone TPUSA sought to project—a platform for expression, belief, and cultural commentary beyond the traditional Super Bowl spectacle.