Another artist has dropped out of Rock the Country fest. The festival first started receiving backlash after it advertised itself as being a celebration of America's 250th anniversary. Until today, Carter Faith, Morgan Wade, and Ludacris were among the artists who had opted out of the festival's lineup.
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Now, the band Shinedown is making a similar move.
In an Instagram statement, the hard rock band explained the reasoning behind their decision.
"Shinedown is everyone's band. We feel that we have been given a platform to bring all people together through the power of music and song," the group wrote on social media.
"We have one boss, and it is everyone in the audience. 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. And to our fans, thank you for supporting and believing in us.
We love and appreciate you always.'
As of now, some artists that are still slated to perform include Jelly Roll, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, and Creed.
Ludacris and Others Leave Rock the Country Lineup
Rock the Country had its first festival run in 2024. At the time, the event was advertised as a way for small towns in America to gain recognition, since the stops are primarily in less-populated rural areas.
In a 2026 statement, Kid Rock, a face of the festival, explained that this year, Rock the Country aims to be more of a "movement."
"It's this simple," he said in a press release. "'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."
What followed was a swift move by Ludacris to withdraw from the festival, with various outlets reporting that the whole situation was a "mix-up," according to his manager.
While artists like Morgan Wade made a quieter exit, Carter Faith was quick to respond to fans who claimed she was playing the festival.
"Not anymore!"
