Fourth Artist Backs Out Of Rock the Country Tour, Anderson Festival Canceled

The Rock the Country festival stop in Anderson, South Carolina has been canceled due to “unforeseen circumstances,” coming on the heels of co-headliner Shinedown pulling out of the event.

On Friday morning, Shinedown shared a statement across their official social media accounts:

“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. 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 that this decision will create difference 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.”

Following Shinedown’s departure, the festival reportedly emailed ticketholders notifying them of the cancellation and offering the option to transfer tickets to a different Rock the Country date or receive a full refund.

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Shinedown is now the fourth act to withdraw from the festival, joining Ludacris, whose team clarified to Rolling Stone that “lines got crossed and he wasn’t supposed to be on there,” as well as Carter Faith and Morgan Wade, who pulled out without issuing formal statements.

Despite the Anderson cancellation, Rock the Country is still scheduled to make stops in seven cities across the U.S.:

• Bellville, TX — Austin County Fairgrounds, May 1–2, 2026
  
• Bloomingdale, GA — Ottawa Farms, May 29–30, 2026
  
• Sioux Falls, SD — W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds, June 27–28, 2026
  
• Ashland, KY — Boyd County Fairgrounds, July 10–11, 2026
  
• Hastings, MI — Barry Expo Center, August 8–9, 2026
  
• Ocala, FL — Florida Horse Park, August 28–29, 2026
  
• Hamburg, NY — Erie County Fairgrounds, September 11–12, 2026
  

Lineups vary by city and feature artists such as Kid Rock (co-founder of the festival), Jelly Roll, Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Creed, Brooks & Dunn, Riley Green, Miranda Lambert, Hank Williams Jr., Jon Pardi, Ella Langley, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Brantley Gilbert, Treaty Oak Revival, Gavin Adcock, Nelly, and more.

“It’s this simple. Rock The Country isn’t just a music festival; it’s a movement,” Kid Rock said in a previous statement. “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 The Country was built to honor the communities that don’t always get the spotlight, but show up with heart every single time,” Nathan Baugh, CEO and Partner of Peachtree Entertainment, added. “As we look ahead to 2026 and America’s 250th anniversary, we are raising the bar across the entire tour with bigger lineups, more intentional fan experiences, and meaningful investments in comfort and production,” added Shane Quick, President of Live Events. “This is not just a tour. It is a celebration of the people, places, and music that define this country.”