Rock the Country 2026 promised eight massive shows in eight small towns. Now the messaging at the official website only promises seven.
It’s not clear if the change came before or after Shinedown pulled itself off the festival lineup on Friday (Feb. 6). They were scheduled to headline Day 2 in Anderson, S.C.
Ludacris was also on the original poster but he removed himself soon after the lineup announcement, saying there was a miscommunication. With both artists gone, Parmalee would be the biggest name on the July 26 festival date.
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Neither Brantley Gilbert nor Gretchen Wilson have the show listed on their official webpages but Gilbert does have two other RTC dates listed.
Why Was Rock the Country Festival South Carolina Canceled?
It’s not clear if the two-date festival at Anderson Sports & Ent. Center has been canceled, but if so, it may not have anything to do with multiple artists (including Morgan Wade) dropping off the bill. Festivals typically get canceled for a variety or reasons, including low ticket sales, troubling logistics, disagreements with local authorities and more.
No announcement was made at Rock the Country’s website or on social media and thus far no local news outlet in South Carolina has reported on the story. There is no reference to this date any longer however, and a key change has been made in the poster’s masthead (see below).
Taste of Country also reached out to a Rock the Festival representative for further comment.
RocktheCountry.com
Why Are Artists Dropping Out of Rock the Country?
The reasons artists are dropping out of this festival aren’t all known, but response to January’s lineup announcement provides a clue.
Shinedown wrote “See you soon” with three fire emojis in the comments. Replies to that comment range from support or questions if they were playing a particular show, to disappointment that they’re aligning themselves with two headliners (Kid Rock and Aldean) closely associated with President Trump.
Over the last decade or more, Kid Rock has been a polarizing character but his most controversial social statements came months or even years before the festival lineup announcement. So, it’s not quite clear which single event triggered a decision to step away from the fest, if any, or if it has more to do with the American political climate.
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Artists such as Maren Morris suggested a reason newcomers may cancel: they may not even know they’ve signed up. This happens because newer artists often tag along to festivals their tour headliner is playing between tour dates. It makes for easy routing and a nice paycheck.
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Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes
