The rapper’s rep claims his name was never supposed to be part of the Rock the Country fest’s lineup.

Ludacris drops out of festival with Kid Rock after backlash from fans over MAGA claims: ‘Lines got crossed’

The rapper's rep claims his name was never supposed to be part of the Rock the Country fest's lineup.

By Lauren Huff

Lauren Huff

Lauren Huff is an award-winning journalist and staff writer at ** with over 12 years of experience covering all facets of the entertainment industry.

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January 16, 2026 8:17 p.m. ET

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Ludacris on stage at Atlanta's One Musicfest in October 2025. Credit:

Aaron J. Thornton/WireImage

Ludacris will not be rocking the country this summer.

The music festival Rock the Country announced its lineup for the eight-town event earlier this week, and according to *Rolling Stone*, Ludacris' name was on it. Fellow rapper Nelly and country singers such as Kid Rock, Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Jelly Roll, Miranda Lambert, and more were also listed, among many others.

However, the rapper's name no longer appears on the festival's website. Though no public explanation has been made, the festival confirmed the change to the outlet, and Ludacris' rep claimed it was "a mix-up" that he was ever part of the lineup in the first place.

"Lines got crossed and he wasn't supposed to be on there," his rep told the outlet.

Rapper Ludacris speaks onstage during the 2025 Beloved Benefit in Atlanta.

Paras Griffin/Getty

Reps for Rock the Country and Ludacris did not immediately respond to **'s request for comment Friday.

Following the festival's initial announcement, some fans took to Ludacris' Instagram to express their disappointment over his presumed appearance alongside some artists who've publicly aligned themselves with Donald Trump.

"Sad to hear you're joining the maga festival, you were a favorite of mine," one person wrote, while another shared, "WHY are you playing at a MAGA festival that has Kid Rock as a headliner?"

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Another Instagram user wrote, "At this point these rappers used their people to become known only to sell us out... not even disappointed anymore I just know everybody has a certain number that they will be anything for..."

According to its website, the Rock the Country fest is "more than just a festival, it's a celebration of community, tradition, and the spirit that’s carried America through 250 years. It's where neighbors become friends, families come together under the wide-open sky, and folks from every walk of life share the simple joy of great music and good company."

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While Ludacris will not be partaking in the festivities, attendees can expect to see performances from the likes of Creed, Brooks & Dunn, Riley Green, Gretchen Wilson, Hank Williams Jr., Ella Langley, Shinedown, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Jon Pardi, Brantley Gilbert, Treaty Oak Revival, Uncle Kracker, Gavin Adcock, and more artists.

The event kicks off on May 1 and runs through September 2026.

- Music Festivals

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Music”