Rappers Ludacris and Nelly will be among the headliners for this year’s Rock the Country festival.
The festival includes eight shows, with performances from Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Jelly Roll, and Miranda Lambert, among others, also slated to headline. Each concert will happen in a different small town over the course of two days per town.
Nelly previously performed at President Donald Trump’s inauguration ball during the week of celebrations. Kid Rock and Jason Aldean, repeat Rock the Country festival performers, also appeared and performed at inaugural events.
Because of the festival’s association with Trump allies, the festival is perceived to be associated with MAGA fanatics, prompting criticism of Ludacris and Nelly for joining it.
“Ludacris and Nelly playing this MAGA Nazi fest is hilarious,” one user wrote on X.
“I’m disgusted seeing Ludacris’ name on this list. No Black person should be on this list,” another user wrote on X. “At this point, anyone supporting Trump is telling us who they are. There’s no middle ground.”
Others mocked the outrage.
“Some folks want to cancel Ludacris over this?” one user wrote with a laughing emoji.
“Ludacris and Nelly are under fire by fans for joining the 2026 Rock The County music festival, which is a pro America, and has been dubbed as a pro Maga festival. Good on these two!” another user wrote on X Thursday. “Respect!”
Each show has a different lineup, as Ludacris is slated to perform July 26 in Anderson, South Carolina, and again on Aug. 29 in Ocala, Florida, and Nelly is scheduled to perform on Sept. 12 in Hamburg, New York.
“Rock The Country is more than just a festival, it’s a celebration of community, tradition, and the spirit that’s carried America through 250 years,” the Rock the Country website reads.
“As we honor this milestone 250th year, every song, every laugh, and every toast feels a little bigger. It’s a chance to look around and appreciate the strength of our towns, the stories that shaped us, and the moments we’ll be talking about long after the lights go down.”
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Tickets are currently on sale via a presale at the low cost of $2.50 per ticket to keep the festival accessible for attendees.
The Washington Examiner has reached out to Rock the Country, Ludacris, and Nelly for comment.