How Did Turning Point USA’s Alternative Halftime Show Perform?

Photo Credit: Turning Point USA

Turning Point USA’s “All-American Halftime Show” drew 6.1 million viewers on YouTube, but how did it compare to Bad Bunny’s ratings at the real thing?

Turning Point USA’s “All-American Halftime Show” streamed on YouTube opposite Bad Bunny’s headlining halftime performance, drawing in 6.1 million viewers on Sunday night. While the show wasn’t as politically divisive in its message as critics might have anticipated, it featured plenty of opportunities for the Charlie Kirk-founded organization to solicit donations.

Besides attempting to stick it to Bad Bunny, Kid Rock was the primary draw and arguably the biggest name to take the stage. Other performances included country singers Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett. Overall, the show was largely devoid of political messaging and advertising.

The event began after the first half of the Super Bowl—about the time Bad Bunny was set to take the stage during the NFL event. It was originally meant to stream on X, formerly Twitter. But due to licensing restrictions (Elon Musk doesn’t pay for any), Turning Point announced that the show would not be available on X, directing viewers instead to YouTube.

Turning Point’s event drew over 6 million concurrent views on YouTube, but that will hardly make a dent in Bad Bunny’s halftime viewership numbers. While the official numbers have yet to be released by Nielsen, last year’s Kendrick Lamar halftime show drew in a record-breaking 133.5 million viewers.

The YouTube livestream started off with a message in support of the late Charlie Kirk, before U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made a (presumably prerecorded) cameo ahead of the night’s performances.

The concert kicked off with a guitar solo of the “Star-Spangled Banner,” followed by performances from Gilbert of “Real American”—perhaps the most politically charged song of the night—and “Dirt Road Anthem.” Kid Rock was the last to take the stage, with a high-octane (lip-synched) performance of his 1999 hit “Bawitdaba,” following it up with an emotional cover of country singer Cody Johnson’s “Til You Can’t.”

Meanwhile, despite alluding that he wouldn’t be watching it, President Trump ranted on his Truth Social after Bad Bunny’s halftime performance about how “absolutely terrible” it all was.

“Nobody understands a word this guy is saying, and the dancing is disgusting, especially for young children that are watching from throughout the U.S.A. and all over the World,” wrote Trump.

Bad Bunny remarked in Spanish during his set—which also featured cameos from Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, and a slew of celebs on the sidelines—that English isn’t his first language. But that’s okay, he added, because it isn’t America’s first language either.