Rock the Country Festival will not be returning to Anderson, South Carolina this summer, as organizers have officially canceled the tour’s July 25 and 26 stop following a series of artist withdrawals.
The decision came shortly after Shinedown announced they would no longer perform on the tour, a move that significantly altered the planned lineup. The Anderson weekend was originally set to bring together a mix of country, rock, and Southern-rooted artists, headlined by Kid Rock and Jason Aldean, with Creed, Brantley Gilbert, Gretchen Wilson, and Parmalee also scheduled to appear.
The South Carolina date had already seen earlier changes. Ludacris and Morgan Wade were part of the initial January announcement but later pulled out, and organizers confirmed that Carter Faith would also no longer be participating.
In a statement addressing the cancellation, festival organizers said Rock the Country was created to bring people together through music and shared experiences. They emphasized that they chose not to move forward with the Anderson event rather than present a show that fell short of what fans expect.
With Anderson removed from the schedule, the touring festival will now visit seven U.S. markets instead of the originally planned eight. The tour is set to begin May 1 and 2 in Belleville, Texas, and wrap up September 11 and 12 in Hamburg, New York.
Local officials expressed disappointment over the loss of the event. Anderson County administrator Rusty Burns noted that the festival had drawn tens of thousands of visitors in previous years and delivered a multi-million-dollar economic boost to the region.
First launched in 2024 by Kid Rock, Rock the Country has stopped in Anderson for the past two summers. While organizers maintain that the festival is not intended as a political event, it has generated attention for its messaging and perceived ties to conservative and MAGA-aligned audiences. Organizers reiterated that their focus remains on supporting artists, honoring fans, and celebrating community through live music.