Ludacris and Nelly draw backlash over bookings at MAGA-coded music festival

Hip-hop icons Ludacris and Nelly are facing criticism from fans online after being announced as performers at ‘Rock the Country,’ a conservative-leaning festival with a lineup that many viewers say signals a MAGA-friendly message.

Rappers Ludacris and Nelly are drawing heat on social media over their inclusion in the lineup for the “Rock The Country” music festival — an event critics describe as MAGA-coded due to its lineup and association with conservative-leaning performers. 

Ludacris gon be like “What’s Your Fantasy” and the audience finna be like “a white ethnostate” https://t.co/vmotfDPrLh

— glassJAw Rule (@InternalDivide) January 12, 2026

“Rock The Country” bills itself as a celebration of “patriotic” Americana music, featuring a roster that leans heavily into country and rock acts often embraced by right-wing audiences, including Kid Rock and Hank Williams Jr.—artists whose music and public personas have been tied to conservative politics.

Kid Rock says Rock the Country is a music festival “for hard-working, God-fearing patriots to gather as one and celebrate freedom, music, and the party of the year.”https://t.co/JDo33zkt3l

— CONSEQUENCE (@consequence) January 13, 2026

The inclusion of Ludacris and Nelly surprised many fans online. Some commentators poked fun at the contrast between the rappers’ careers and the lineup’s overall tone. Others expressed disappointment, saying the gig couldn’t outweigh the political optics of sharing a stage with performers tied to MAGA-friendly spaces. 

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Critics on social media platforms described the situation as “strange” or “tone-deaf,” with some suggesting that the booking risked alienating fans who view the festival as signaling support for causes they oppose. Several comments described the pairing as “hilarious,” while others urged the artists to reconsider. 

Oh hey! A whole list of country artists that will no longer get my money. Thank you to Rock the Country for compiling this for me!

— Miss Chingona (@MissChingonaCA) January 12, 2026

So far, neither Ludacris nor Nelly has publicly commented on the backlash or clarified whether their participation should be read as a political statement rather than a paid performance opportunity. 

Not surprised by Nelly but YOU, @Ludacris, https://t.co/ZheTvJxxEL pic.twitter.com/14AOMk6Ir6

— Luv (@savluv3) January 13, 2026