SHINEDOWN Withdraws From Kid Rock's 'Rock The Country'

Nashville, TN. - Rock band SHINEDOWN has announced its withdrawal from the upcoming Rock The Country festival, a multi-city event launched by Kid Rock. The decision comes after public scrutiny and previous comments made by SHINEDOWN drummer Barry Kerch regarding the festival's perceived political associations and the earlier departure of rapper Ludacris.

SHINEDOWN, originally slated for the July 26 performance in Anderson, South Carolina, released a statement on social media emphasizing their commitment to unity. "SHINEDOWN is everyone's band... Our band's purpose is to unite, not divide," the group declared. "With that in mind, we have made the decision that we will not be playing the Rock The Country Festival. We do not want to participate in something we believe will create further division."

This announcement follows an interview last month where Barry Kerch discussed the band's initial agreement to perform. Kerch admitted he was unaware of the festival's political leanings, stating, "I had no idea this was Kid Rock's thing." He also controversially referred to Ludacris as "a coward" for pulling out, remarking, "If he's not tough enough to stick it out, that's just silly."

Ludacris's management had previously clarified to Rolling Stone that "lines got crossed" regarding his involvement, with reports indicating his withdrawal stemmed from fan backlash over the festival's perceived connections to Donald Trump's "MAGA movement."

SHINEDOWN has historically maintained an apolitical stance, with band members, including Kerch and frontman Brent Smith, consistently emphasizing their focus on music and unity over political affiliations. The Rock The Country festival features prominent Donald Trump supporters Kid Rock and Jason Aldean as headliners, alongside a diverse lineup of artists.