The Kid Rock-led Rock The Country Festival has suffered another setback, with its July 25–26 stop in Anderson, SC officially canceled due to what organizers are calling “unforeseen circumstances.” No word on how universally acclaimed songwriting genius Kid Rock will blame everyone else for this, but I’m sure it’s happening as we speak.
A statement provided to Fox Carolina by the Anderson County Administrator confirmed the cancellation and expressed disappointment over the festival’s absence in 2026: “Anderson County has been proud to host Rock the Country for the past two years. The event was a huge success drawing tens of thousands of visitors, making a multi-million-dollar economic impact on the Upstate.
“An event of this caliber proved what a great venue and exceptional hospitality we have here in Anderson County. Of course, we are disappointed that Rock the Country will not return to Anderson this year. We are already planning additional major events and look forward to exciting announcements to come. Anderson County is committed to bringing high quality arts and entertainment to our community.”
Listings for the Anderson dates have also been removed from the festival’s official website, further confirming the cancellation.
The news comes amid mounting instability surrounding the 2026 Rock The Country rollout. Earlier today, Shinedown withdrew from the festival, citing concerns that the event’s branding and associations could contribute to division rather than unity. Their exit followed Ludacris quietly dropping off the lineup, with his representatives later calling the booking a “mix-up.”
The festival — which has been described as politically right-leaning — was set to feature a mixed-genre lineup including Creed, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Danny Worsnop, Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Jelly Roll, Brooks & Dunn, and rap acts Nelly and Ludacris.
Shinedown drummer Barry Kerch later criticized Ludacris‘ exit on The Vinyl Road podcast, calling the rapper a “coward” for leaving the bill, comments that added fuel to an already tense situation.
At present, festival organizers have not publicly addressed the Anderson cancellation beyond the “unforeseen circumstances” explanation, nor confirmed whether other dates are at risk. However, with a high-profile artist withdrawal and now a full stop being dropped, Rock The Country’s 2026 run appears increasingly uncertain.
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