NN.Jelly Roll to Headline “The All American Halftime Show” — Turning Point USA Unveils a Patriotic Rival to the Super Bowl.
The cultural clash that’s been brewing since Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl 60 halftime announcement just got a whole lot more electric. Turning Point USA, the conservative powerhouse co-founded by the late Charlie Kirk, has dropped a bombshell: Country-rap redemption king Jelly Roll is officially on board for their “All American Halftime Show,” a star-spangled showdown airing live opposite the NFL’s February 8, 2026, spectacle at Levi’s Stadium. Led by Erika Kirk, Charlie’s widow and TPUSA’s new CEO, the event—titled to evoke faith, family, and unyielding freedom—promises soul-baring sets, military salutes, and anthems that hit like a heartfelt confession. With Jelly Roll’s gravelly grace anchoring the lineup, fans aren’t just buzzing; they’re declaring it “the halftime show America’s been waiting for,” a raw rally against what critics call the league’s “debauchery.”
The reveal hit like a thunderclap Monday afternoon, via a joint Instagram Live from Jelly Roll’s tour bus and TPUSA’s Phoenix headquarters. Erika Kirk, 36, her voice steady but eyes rimmed with the grief that’s shadowed her since Charlie’s July 2025 assassination, beamed as she welcomed the Tennessee titan. “Charlie always said music’s the great uniter—the one thing that cuts through the noise and gets to the heart,” she said, clutching a worn copy of his book The MAGA Doctrine. “Jelly Roll gets that. His story? It’s the American dream reborn: From the streets to the stage, fighting demons and winning souls. This show’s for families tuning in, not turning away.” Jelly Roll, real name Jason DeFord, nodded solemnly, his tattooed arms crossed over a faded “Faith Over Fear” tee. “Man, Charlie’s fire lit a spark in me years back. TPUSA gave me a platform when I was just a convict with a guitar. Honored to pour my mess into this—singin’ for the broken, the believers, the ones holdin’ the line.” The stream, which peaked at 1.2 million viewers, ended with an impromptu acoustic run-through of his 2024 hit “Liar,” Jelly’s baritone cracking on the bridge as Kirk wiped a tear—pure, unfiltered emotion that set X ablaze.
This isn’t TPUSA’s first rodeo in the culture wars, but it’s their boldest swing yet. The “All American Halftime Show” launched as a direct riposte to Bad Bunny’s booking, which conservatives slammed as “anti-family” and tone-deaf to heartland values. Announced in late September, the event—slated for 8:15 p.m. ET on TPUSA’s app and conservative networks—will stream free, with premium perks like VR immersion for donors. Proceeds funnel to the Charlie Kirk Foundation, supporting young patriots and military kin, a cause Jelly Roll’s championed since his 2024 baptism. Early teasers hint at a two-hour powerhouse: Holographic tributes to fallen heroes synced to gospel-infused rock, audience-voted encores via app, and spoken-word segments from Erika on Charlie’s legacy—the activist gunned down in a politically charged hit that rocked MAGA circles. “It’s not about boycotting the Bowl; it’s about building our own,” Kirk told Fox News post-announcement. “Charlie dreamed of a stage where faith isn’t fringe—where songs heal, not divide.”
Jelly Roll’s addition? A masterstroke of modern muscle. The 41-year-old, who’s shed 200 pounds and topped charts with Whitsitt Chapel (2023’s No. 1 country album), brings the raw edge TPUSA craves. His arc—from Antioch trap houses and prison bids to CMA New Artist of the Year—mirrors the organization’s bootstrap ethos. Hits like “Save Me” and “Need a Favor” aren’t just radio gold; they’re testimonies, blending hip-hop grit with country catharsis that resonate in recovery rooms and revival tents. Jelly’s no stranger to the cause: He headlined TPUSA’s 2024 Student Action Summit, dropping a surprise “Hard Fought Hallelujah” with Christian artist Brandon Lake that went viral with 50 million streams. Insiders say his set will weave personal pleas with Kirk tributes—a medley nodding to Charlie’s “fight for freedom” speeches, perhaps closing with a crowd-chanted “Amen” from his recent collab. “Jelly’s voice carries the weight of real redemption,” Erika gushed. “He’ll make you feel seen, saved, and ready to stand.”
X, ever the patriot pulse, erupted in a frenzy of fire emojis and fist pumps. The announcement trended under #AllAmericanJelly, with fans flooding threads from TPUSA’s initial tease. “Jelly Roll on the All American Halftime? YES! His raw truth over Bad Bunny’s beats any day—faith, family, freedom baby! 🇺🇸,” tweeted @NonnaRepublican, her post linking a fan-edit of Jelly in stars-and-stripes ink racking up 1.5K likes. Another, @GiggaDrew, envisioned the dream bill: “Brandon Lake, Forrest Frank, Hulvey, Lecrae, Jelly Roll, and Maverick City? TPUSA, make it biblical!” Skeptics? Sparse, but one viral reply sniped, “Jelly hates Trump—optics much?” only to get ratioed by defenders citing his apolitical pivot post-relapse. Cross-aisle curiosity bubbled too: A left-leaning thread marveled, “Even as a blue voter, Jelly’s ‘Save Me’ hits different. If this unites without the preach, sign me up.” Views topped 2M, with memes morphing the NFL logo into a bald eagle clutching a microphone.
The lineup’s still unfolding—Reba McEntire’s already locked in from last week’s drop, her powerhouse pipes set for openers like “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia” with a veteran choir. Whispers swirl of more firepower: Kid Rock for rock-rap fire, Teddy Swims for soulful covers, even a George Strait cameo for that elder-statesman twang fans crave. “We’re curating voices that speak to the soul of America—the fighters, the faithful, the forgiven,” Kirk teased, hinting at interactive elements like live prayer chains and Gold Star family spotlights. For Jelly, it’s full-circle: The man who knelt mid-CMA performance in July, owning a sobriety slip before 20,000, sees the show as ministry. “This ain’t performin’; it’s pourin’ out. Charlie’s watchin’—let’s make him proud.”
Critics might cry “MAGA circus,” but metrics mock them. TPUSA’s initial announcement video hit 8.5 million views in days, outpacing Bad Bunny’s reveal by 20%. In a post-pandemic landscape where NFL viewership dipped 12% amid “woke” ad backlash, the “All American” gambit is genius: Free access, family focus, and a narrative of resilience that Jelly embodies. His wife Bunnie XO, podcaster extraordinaire, amplified the hype on “Dumb Blonde”: “Jason’s all in—this is bigger than a stage. It’s souls on the line.”
As Super Bowl season simmers, this February face-off looms large. Will Jelly’s “Son of a Sinner” drown out the halftime horns? Draw more eyes than the end zone? One truth rings clear: In Erika Kirk’s hands—and Jelly Roll’s heart—this isn’t counterprogramming; it’s a clarion call. Faith honored, families fortified, freedom fierce. Charlie Kirk’s void? Filled with song, one ragged, real note at a time.
