They’re introducing a new counterprogramming event to coincide with the Super Bowl, The All American Halftime Show. Scheduled to take place on February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, the event will run concurrently with the NFL’s Super Bowl LX halftime show. The All American Halftime Show is meant to promote “Faith, Family & Freedom,” as the organization’s mission statement puts it.
The announcement of the event comes amid a massive conservative backlash against the NFL. This response focuses on the league’s choice to have reggaeton artist Bad Bunny headline, who will be performing predominantly in Spanish. This move has been panned by top members of the conservative establishment. President Donald Trump expressed his disapproval, stating, “I’ve never, I never heard of him. I don’t know who he is. I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s, like, crazy.”
Turning Point USA dropped the news on social media platform X that The All American Halftime Show is back! It will include a wide variety of musical styles—Americana, classic rock, country, hip-hop, pop and worship—in addition to “anything in English.” While further details regarding the lineup of artists are forthcoming, the organization aims to present an alternative celebration during the Super Bowl’s high-profile halftime break.
Riley Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer and current Turning Point USA ambassador weighed-in on the issue. She’s perhaps most famous for her activism against trans women and girls participating in women’s sports. She said, “Bad Bunny just gave Americans four months to learn Spanish so they could understand the Super Bowl halftime show. No gracias! We’ll have our own and get a better show.”
Conservative commentator Jack Posobiec to the idea that such an alternative event is critical. He continued, “Sounds like a perfect reason to put together a different kind of halftime show.” This is emblematic of a recent effort by some conservatives to tap into a perceived sense of exclusion from the broader choices of entertainment.
Tragically, that announcement came just a few days after the death of Charlie Kirk on September 10, while delivering a public speaking engagement. Though this loss was disappointing, Turning Point USA said they remain committed to keeping their values intact and continuing with The All American Halftime Show. Yes, Turning Point USA is indeed as excited as you are to announce The All American Halftime show — turning hearts and minds across America!” the organization wrote.
Now all eyes are on Super Bowl LX. Yet at the same time, these competing events are laying bare a deep cultural divide in American entertainment and political discourse. Whatever happens, the All American Halftime Show should be a defining reflection of the values and vision of Turning Point USA and its millions of supporters.
