Rock the Country trims 2026 tour to seven stops after Anderson cancellation and artist exits

Rock the Country’s 2026 run has been reshaped over the past 48 hours, with the Anderson, South Carolina, weekend canceled and multiple artists departing the traveling festival. As of Sunday, February 8 (ET), the event’s website reflects seven remaining stops between May and September.

What changed in the last 48 hours

On Friday, February 6 (ET), Shinedown said it would not perform on the tour, stating, “Our band’s purpose is to unite, not divide.” Soon after, Anderson County officials confirmed the two-day stop originally slated for July 25–26 would not take place this year. By Saturday and into Sunday, the Anderson dates no longer appeared on the festival’s site, signaling a formal contraction of the 2026 itinerary.

Anderson, S.C., stop shelved; seven-city plan now posted

The Anderson weekend had been part of an eight-city schedule unveiled in January. With its removal, the current slate lists Bellville, Texas (May 1–2), Bloomingdale, Georgia (May 29–30), Sioux Falls, South Dakota (June 27–28), Ashland, Kentucky (July 10–11), Hastings, Michigan (August 8–9), Ocala, Florida (August 28–29), and Hamburg, New York (September 11–12). The home page now touts “7 massive shows” in “7 small towns,” underscoring the updated scope.

Wave of lineup changes fuels pressure

Shinedown’s announcement Friday followed a string of adjustments since the tour’s January reveal. Rapper Ludacris exited on January 16, and country performers Morgan Wade and Carter Faith have also come off the bill. In recent days, fans also noted changes around other crossover rock names. The shifting rosters sparked fresh scrutiny of the tour’s branding and tone, while prompting some artists to emphasize a desire to keep their live shows focused on bringing audiences together.

Who’s still on the bill

Despite the turbulence, the tour continues to promote a broad mix of headliners and genre pairings across the seven cities. The posted rosters for 2026 feature names such as Kid Rock, Jason Aldean, Jelly Roll, Miranda Lambert, Brooks & Dunn, Hank Williams Jr., Brantley Gilbert, Chris Janson, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Marshall Tucker Band, and others, varying by location. The city-by-city lineups differ, with some markets emphasizing country headliners and others leaning into rock-tinged pairings on a second stage.

Ticket-holders: transfer or refund options

Attendees who purchased tickets for Anderson have been offered options through festival communications: transfer to another 2026 stop with a merchandise credit or request a full refund the process shared by email. Fans are being directed to check their inboxes for the applicable form and deadlines, and to review the details for each city’s schedule before moving tickets, given that daily rosters and headliners differ from market to market.

What to watch next

The immediate focus shifts to spring launch logistics and any further lineup stabilization ahead of opening weekend in Texas on May 1–2 (ET). Key questions include whether additional artists will shuffle, whether any new names will be added to bolster specific markets, and how production tweaks—such as expanded shade, cooling areas, and added fan zones advertised for 2026—will shape the on-site experience. For now, the itinerary stands at seven stops, with organizers positioning the festival as a patriotic, small-town roadshow to mark the nation’s 250th year. Fans planning travel should continue to monitor schedule pages and artist socials for any day-by-day updates as the tour approaches.

Sources consulted: People, The Independent, Yahoo News, Rock The Country