In a bold maneuver that merges culture, politics, and entertainment, Turning Point USA (TPUSA), under the leadership of Erika Kirk, widow of the late founder Charlie Kirk, has announced that it will stage an “All-American Halftime Show” on the same day as the 2026 Super Bowl. The announcement comes amid political backlash over Bad Bunny’s selection as headliner of the official NFL halftime event, and points to an intensifying culture war over the meaning of American identity, musical taste, and media representation.

Background: Bad Bunny, Super Bowl LX, and the Conservative Backlash

On September 28, 2025, the NFL, in partnership with Apple Music and Roc Nation, formally announced that Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican superstar known for reggaeton and Latin trap, would headline the Super Bowl LX halftime show on February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. According to the NFL, this would mark his first time as a solo headliner (though he previously appeared as a guest in Super Bowl LIV).  The halftime show is expected to be a major spectacle, produced by Roc Nation and Jesse Collins, and broadcast across major networks and streaming platforms.

The announcement drew praise from those celebrating expanded representation and the NFL’s efforts to embrace global audiences. But it also provoked sharp criticism from conservative voices who objected on multiple grounds, including:

Language: Much of Bad Bunny’s music is in Spanish; critics accused the NFL of sidelining English-language music.

Political views: Bad Bunny has made statements about immigration, ICE raids, and Puerto Rican identity, sparking backlash from critics who view them as too politically charged.

Cultural values: Some conservative commentators claim his performances occasionally include gender expression or aesthetics they find controversial.

“What is American?”: A number of critics have challenged the idea of a Puerto Rican artist headlining the “American” half-time show—despite Puerto Ricans being U.S. citizens

One sign of the backlash: an online petition garnered over 10,000 signatures pushing for George Strait, a longtime country music figure, to replace Bad Bunny, with critics arguing he better represents “traditional American values.” Former President Donald Trump also publicly derided the selection, saying, “I’ve never heard of him” and calling the decision “absolutely ridiculous.”

Turning Point USA Steps In: Erika Kirk and the All-American Alternative

Against this backdrop, TPUSA has declared it intends to mount a counterprogramming initiative: an “All-American Halftime Show” that will run concurrently with the NFL’s televised event.

Erika Frantzve Kirk, now CEO of TPUSA, is overseeing the initiative. The organization was founded in 2012 by her late husband, Charlie Kirk, and she assumed leadership following his death in September 2025. TPUSA’s announcement emphasizes themes of “Faith, Family & Freedom.”On social media and via a dedicated website, the group is asking potential viewers to register interest and even select their preferred musical genres, offering options such as Americana, classic rock, country, worship, “Anything in English,” and more. The inclusion of “Anything in English” as a choice has been criticized by some observers as a coded jibe at Bad Bunny’s Spanish-language performance.

As of now, TPUSA has not released a list of confirmed performers, sponsors, or broadcasting partners. Their messaging suggests the show will stream or broadcast independently, offering viewers a conservative alternative to the NFL’s halftime programming.

Political and Cultural Stakes

What makes this episode remarkable is not simply that a political organization is mounting an event, but that it is explicitly in reaction to programming decisions by a major entertainment and sports institution. The Super Bowl halftime show has traditionally been one of the most-watched musical spectacles of the year; in recent decades, it has featured megastars spanning genres, often bridging divisions.

Turning Point’s move can be seen as a form of culture war counterprogramming—an attempt to reclaim or compete for the symbolic meaning of national identity, musical taste, and “American values.” Some commentators frame it as one of the first deliberately political attempts to counterprogram the Super Bowl halftime show.

The initiative will test several unknowns:

Audience traction: Will a substantial audience choose to watch a competing show rather than the official broadcast?

Artist recruitment: Can TPUSA attract credible performers who align with their brand and have enough draw?

Messaging vs. spectacle: Can the event combine artistic excellence with ideological messaging without being dismissed as a stunt?

Turning Point’s organizers appear confident in their framing. The group’s long presence in conservative youth organization and campus activism gives it a base of supporters potentially interested in alternative media offerings. Meanwhile, critics argue the counterprogram underscores increasingly polarized media consumption: audiences are being asked to choose not just content, but cultural identity.

What to Watch (Leading Up to February 8, 2026)

In the coming months, several developments will determine whether the All-American Halftime Show becomes a footnote or a cultural flashpoint:

    Lineup announcements: The first real test will be whether TPUSA secures well-known artists willing to participate.

    Platform / distribution: Will the show be live-streamed? Carried on TV channels or conservative media networks?

    Audience metrics: Viewership numbers—if disclosed—will show whether counterprogramming can meaningfully compete.

    Backlash / reception: How mainstream media and cultural critics respond may shape public perception of both events.

    NFL / sponsors’ reaction: The NFL and corporate sponsors may face pressure (from both sides) to respond or comment.

Already, some commentators view this clash as emblematic of the broader fractures in American public life: who gets to define culture, whose voices are seen as “American,” and whether entertainment can ever be divorced from politics.

In short, February 8, 2026, may prove to be more than just a football game and a halftime spectacle—it may be a battlefield for the soul of American identity.