Turning Point USA halftime show set for Super Bowl Sunday as viewers weigh “alternative” option
Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, is shaping up as a two-track halftime moment: the official NFL production inside the stadium and a competing “All-American Halftime Show” promoted by Turning Point USA for viewers who want an alternative broadcast. The counter-programming has pulled unusual attention because it features a recognizable lineup—Kid Rock, Lee Brice, Brantley Gilbert, and Gabby Barrett—plus a growing swirl of controversy tied to an old Kid Rock track, “Cool Daddy Cool,” that resurfaced in the days leading into the show.
The result is a rare situation where “how to watch” has become part of the news itself, with different audiences planning different screens for the same 15-minute window.
How to watch the Super Bowl in the U.S.
Super Bowl LX kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, with pregame coverage beginning at 1:00 p.m. ET on the primary rights-holding TV partners. If you have traditional cable/satellite, the game is on the main broadcast channel carrying the Super Bowl, with Spanish-language coverage available on a companion network.
If you’ve cut the cord, the simplest legal path is the rights-holder’s streaming service (subscription required). Many live-TV streaming bundles that carry local broadcast channels also work, but availability varies by region.
TPUSA “All-American Halftime Show”: what it is and who’s performing
Turning Point USA’s alternative halftime show is positioned as “family-friendly” counter-programming that emphasizes “faith, family, and freedom.” It is headlined by Kid Rock, with additional performances from Lee Brice, Brantley Gilbert, and Gabby Barrett.
The show has been promoted as a direct alternative to the official halftime act, leaning into culture-war framing rather than sports spectacle. That positioning has helped it travel beyond the usual political audience and into mainstream entertainment conversation—especially as clips, promo quotes, and artist reactions circulate ahead of Sunday.
When the alternative show airs and how to watch it
Turning Point USA has promoted the alternative broadcast as airing around 8:00 p.m. ET, timed to overlap the Super Bowl halftime window (the exact minute can vary depending on game flow). Distribution has been described as a mix of linear TV carriage plus streaming through the organization’s own channels and allied outlets.
Here’s the practical viewing guide in ET:
| What you’re trying to watch | When | Where to find it (U.S.) |
|---|---|---|
| Super Bowl kickoff | 6:30 p.m. | Main Super Bowl broadcast partners |
| Official halftime show window (approx.) | ~8:00 p.m. | Same as the game feed |
| TPUSA “All-American Halftime Show” (approx.) | ~8:00 p.m. | A faith-focused TV network + TPUSA’s own streaming/social channels |
| Postgame coverage | After final whistle | Same broadcast partners + live-TV streaming bundles |
Because the alternative show is not part of the Super Bowl broadcast, viewers typically treat it as a second-screen event—switching devices at halftime—or they skip the halftime segment on the main feed entirely.
The “Cool Daddy Cool” flare-up and why it’s part of the story
A major reason this counter-show is trending is the resurfacing of lyrics from Kid Rock’s older song “Cool Daddy Cool,” which has drawn criticism online for content that many find objectionable. The controversy has fueled calls for the alternative show’s lineup to address song choices, tone, and messaging.
Nothing indicates that the alternative halftime performance is scheduled to include that specific track, and no set list has been publicly confirmed. Still, the resurfaced attention has become a reputational drag on an event marketed as “family-friendly,” creating a tension between branding and the social media cycle that’s now attached to the headline.
What this means for viewers on Sunday
For most fans, the decision is straightforward: watch the game and treat everything else as optional. But the competing halftime framing adds a new layer to what is usually a single shared cultural moment.
Three things to watch for Sunday night:
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Whether the alternative show draws enough live viewership to claim “counter-event” status beyond its core audience
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Whether any performers make on-air comments that broaden (or cool) the controversy
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Whether the overlap changes viewing habits—especially for households already watching on multiple screens
Either way, the biggest certainty is timing: the halftime window will be crowded, and the “how to watch” question is now part of the entertainment narrative.
Sources consulted: People, ESPN, The Independent, Decider
