AceShowbiz - Shinedown has officially announced their withdrawal from the upcoming Rock the Country festival, an event linked to the MAGA movement, scheduled for this summer. In a statement shared on social media, the band emphasized, “Our band’s purpose is to unite, not divide.”

This decision aligns Shinedown with other artists who have also chosen to step back from the festival, including notable names such as Ludacris, Morgan Wade, and Carter Faith. The festival is headlined by Kid Rock, a prominent investor in the event.

Shinedown expressed awareness that their choice might elicit mixed reactions, stating, “We know this decision will create differences of opinion. But we do not want to participate in something we believe will create further division.”

Interestingly, another band, Creed, has also been affected, as their name has been removed from the festival's website, although it still appears on the lineup page. A representative for Creed informed Rolling Stone that they had not received any updates regarding the festival.

If the festival proceeds as planned, it will take place over two nights in various cities across the country during the spring and summer months. The lineup includes other big names such as Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Jelly Roll, Brooks and Dunn, Miranda Lambert, and Hank Williams Jr.. As of now, Shinedown is absent from the festival's homepage but remains listed on the lineup page, alongside Faith.

Additionally, the Anderson, South Carolina, event has been officially canceled due to “unforeseen circumstances,” according to Fox Carolina. Both Creed and Shinedown were set to perform, along with Ludacris, Gretchen Wilson, and Lakeview, all of whom are no longer featured on the festival’s website. County Administrator Rusty Burns mentioned they are planning more major events in the future, aiming to enhance the community's access to quality arts and entertainment.

While the Rock the Country festival doesn't explicitly take a political stance, previous reports from Rolling Stone highlighted that it served as a platform for political commentary during 2024, including performances by Gavin Adcock, who criticized then-President Joe Biden. This year, the festival’s promotional material brands it as “A Festival for the People” and claims to celebrate “250 years of Freedom.”