By Sarah Collins | Culture & Politics Desk | February 8, 2026

When millions of Americans tune in to the Super Bowl LIX halftime show at Levi’s Stadium tonight, they’ll have more than one option. While Puerto Rican megastar Bad Bunny takes the NFL’s biggest stage, conservative youth organization Turning Point USA (TPUSA) will air its own live counterprogramming event — “The All-American Halftime Show.”

The move marks the first time a political organization has attempted to rival the Super Bowl’s halftime broadcast — and it’s already igniting fierce debate about culture, identity, and patriotism in modern America.

A Rival Show with a Mission

TPUSA, founded by the late conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, announced the project in January, vowing to deliver “a family-friendly celebration of American values, freedom, and faith.”

Now under the leadership of Erika Kirk, Charlie’s widow, the group says it wants to give viewers “an alternative to Hollywood’s globalist echo chamber.”

“People feel alienated by the NFL’s decision,” Erika Kirk said in a promotional video. “They wanted an artist who sings in English, represents our flag, and honors the American spirit. That’s what our halftime show will do.”

The TPUSA event will stream live on Rumble and select cable networks, broadcasting from a temporary stage in Dallas, Texas — billed as “the heartland’s answer to the coastal elite spectacle.”

Though organizers have yet to reveal a full lineup, teasers promise appearances by country artists, military bands, and “faith-based performers.” An online survey circulated by TPUSA included choices like “Country,” “Classic Rock,” and “Anything in English.”

The Backlash Against Bad Bunny

The controversy began months ago when the NFL named Bad Bunny — the three-time Grammy and twelve-time Latin Grammy winner — as the 2026 Super Bowl halftime headliner.

Supporters hailed the choice as groundbreaking, celebrating the inclusion of a Spanish-language artist at the most-watched American sporting event. Critics, however, saw it differently.

Former President Donald Trump called the selection “absolutely ridiculous,” saying he’d “never heard of him.” House Speaker Mike Johnson suggested country legend Lee Greenwood would have been “a better, more unifying choice.”

Conservative commentators accused the NFL of “pandering to globalism,” pointing to Bad Bunny’s outspoken criticism of Trump-era immigration policies and his habit of blending activism into his performances.

A Movement Born of Outrage

TPUSA’s counter-event was conceived shortly after Charlie Kirk’s death in late 2025 — a tragedy that fueled internal determination to “continue his cultural mission.”

Erika Kirk said the idea emerged from the thousands of messages the organization received from supporters angered by the NFL’s pick.

“People felt forgotten,” she explained. “Charlie always said politics is downstream from culture. If we want to preserve America, we have to compete in the culture — not just complain about it.”

Within weeks, corporate donors and conservative influencers pledged funding. Construction crews broke ground in Texas on a massive outdoor set modeled after a 1950s drive-in theater, complete with vintage cars, flag displays, and fireworks.

Streaming Wars Meet Culture Wars

Media analysts call TPUSA’s move “an unprecedented collision between entertainment and ideology.”

“This isn’t about music — it’s about cultural power,” said Dr. Leila Martinez, a sociologist at UCLA. “The Super Bowl is America’s last shared ritual. Turning Point’s counter-show is an attempt to fracture that space along political lines.”

Some marketing experts, however, see strategic genius. By offering an “alternative halftime,” TPUSA could capture millions of disaffected viewers who feel alienated by modern pop culture — while raking in donations and brand visibility.

“It’s counter-programming meets culture-war merchandising,” said media consultant Aaron Lang. “Whether people love or hate it, they’ll click.”

Bad Bunny Responds with Humor

So far, Bad Bunny himself has avoided direct confrontation. Hosting Saturday Night Live last fall, he poked fun at critics, saying in Spanish, “If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn.”

The quip went viral, cementing his reputation as both unbothered and self-aware. His streaming numbers tell the rest of the story: according to Luminate, Bad Bunny’s U.S. streams jumped 26 percent in the week following the NFL’s announcement — from 173 million to 218.5 million.

“Every controversy just makes him bigger,” said Billboard editor Tomás Rivera. “He’s not just a performer — he’s a cultural fault line.”

America Chooses Its Channel

Tonight, viewers will literally have to choose sides: tune into Fox’s official Super Bowl broadcast, or stream TPUSA’s All-American Halftime Show online.

Pre-event polls suggest the competition could be surprisingly close. A Rasmussen survey found 61 percent of self-identified conservatives planned to “skip” the NFL halftime entirely, while 27 percent said they’d “watch Turning Point’s show instead.”

Meanwhile, Bad Bunny’s supporters are mobilizing hashtags like #WeAllSpeakMusic and #VivaElHalftime to push back against what they call “thinly veiled xenophobia.”

“This isn’t about English or Spanish,” wrote one viral user. “It’s about who gets to define what American means in 2026.”

The Stakes Beyond the Stage

For Erika Kirk, tonight’s event is personal — both a tribute to her late husband and a message to the movement he built.

“Charlie believed America was worth fighting for — in classrooms, in Congress, and yes, even at halftime,” she said. “We’re not canceling anyone. We’re just reminding people that the stars and stripes still shine the brightest.”

As kickoff approaches, the country stands divided not just by teams, but by television feeds.

Will Turning Point’s “All-American Halftime Show” steal viewers from the NFL juggernaut? Probably not. But in a nation increasingly split over culture and identity, it may not need to.

Because in 2026 America, even the halftime show has become political — and that, more than anything, may be the truest reflection of the times.