Kid Rock Pays Tribute to Charlie Kirk in Turning Point USA Halftime Show

The performance aired opposite Bad Bunny’s official halftime show and drew attention for its religious remarks and political symbolism.

Kid Rock in a star-spangled shirt and hat, sunglasses; Charlie Kirk speaking at a podium, wearing a suit and tie.
(Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images), (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)

Kid Rock closed out his performance at Turning Point USA’s alternative Super Bowl halftime event with a religious message and a tribute to Charlie Kirk.

Rock headlined Turning Point USA’s “All-American” halftime show, which streamed live as Bad Bunny performed during the official Super Bowl halftime show at Levi’s Stadium in California. As his set came to an end, Rock shifted from music to a spoken message centered on faith.

“There’s a book sitting in your house somewhere that could use some dusting off,” Rock told viewers. “It is a man who died for all our sins. The hanging from the cross. You can give your life to Jesus.”

The performance concluded with a tribute to Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, who was assassinated last year. In a video shared from the event, Rock dedicated his final song, a cover of “‘Til You Can’t” by Cody Johnson, to Kirk.

“If you’re gonna love somebody, hold ’em as long and as strong and as close as you can. Until you can’t,” Rock sang as an image of Kirk showed up on the screen

Turning Point USA announced the alternative halftime show last fall, positioning it as a response to criticism from conservative circles over Bad Bunny being chosen as the Super Bowl’s official halftime performer. The event featured additional performances from country artists Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett, and was promoted as a parallel option for viewers uninterested in the NFL’s main broadcast.

The show also received public support from some political figures. The White House reposted a clip of the performance on social media, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth shared that his family had tuned in.

Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom praised Bad Bunny’s official Super Bowl halftime show performance.

Stay ahead on Exclusives

Download the Complex App