Rock The Country Cancels South Carolina Stop After Shinedown Pulls-Out of Fest

Rock The Country has officially cancelled an edition of the festival in South Carolina after the rockers of Shinedown pulled-out of the event.

The Florida rockers were set to headline the July 25 and 26 editions of Rock the Country in Anderson, South Carolina this year, however, the band took to social media last week to share that they are dropping-off the lineup. Shinedown noted that they are “everyone’s band” and “we feel that we have been given a platform to bring all people together through the power of music and song.”

| READ: ‘Unite, Not Divide’: Shinedown Drops-Out of Rock The Country Music Festival |

“We have one BOSS, and it is everyone in the audience,” Shinedown said. “Our band’s purpose is to unite, not divide. With that in mind, we have made the decision that we will not be playing the Rock The Country Festival. We know this decision will create differences of opinion. But we do not want to participate in something we believe will create further division.”

Following Shinedown’s cancellation, Rock The Country officially announced that the South Carolina stop was cancelled.

“Rock the Country was created to unite people together through music,” organizers said in a statement on Monday. “Our lineups and our crowds reflect that sentiment — a wide range of voices, backgrounds and stories that make up this country. We’re truly disappointed we won’t be bringing the show to Anderson. Our fans work hard for their money, and we refuse to put on a show that doesn’t meet the standard they deserve.”

Organizers added that their “focus remains where it’s always been: supporting our artists, honoring our fans and delivering unforgettable nights throughout the country” and “the shows ahead represent the heart of what Rock the Country stands for: music, community and pride in where we come from.”

They cheekily added: “loving America isn’t political; it’s who we are.”

The Kid Rock-led festival has already stirred-up controversy, as organizers tout a “celebration of community, tradition, and the spirit that’s carried America through 250 years.”

Rapper Ludacris, who was originally listed on the lineup, pulled-out of the festival last month. His representative told Rolling Stone that there was a “mix up” of his inclusion on the bill, noting that “lines got crossed and he wasn’t supposed to be on there.”

Kid Rock, who notably aligns politically with President Donald Trump, shared his own statement regarding the event, noting that “Rock The Country isn’t just a music festival; it’s a movement.”

“In 2026, as America celebrates its 250th anniversary, this is a place for hard-working, God-fearing patriots to gather as one and celebrate freedom, music, and the party of the year,” Rock said.

Other artists set to perform at the festival include country stars Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Brooks & Dunn, Riley Green, Jelly Roll, and Miranda Lambert, rock’s Creed, and Lynyrd Skynyrd, as well as rapper Nelly.