Ludacris fans 'remove his songs from playlists' after MAGA festival backlash

[Stephan Bobb]

Ludacris fans remove his songs from playlists after MAGA festival backlash

Story by Ayeesha Walsh

Jan 15 • 3 min read • Updated

Ludacris© Getty Images for iHeartRadio

Ludacris has faced a backlash from fans who have threatened to "remove his songs" from their playlists after he was added to the line-up of a "MAGA" music festival.

The rapper has faced a barrage of angry comments from fans who are "disappointed" about him joining the list of performers at the 2026 Rock The Country music festival, dubbed the “MAGA Music Fest.” While the festival is not officially politically affiliated, it features a lineup of performers known for supporting President Donald Trump.

After it was confirmed that Ludacris would join fellow rapper Nelly to perform at some of the advertised shows, he saw a surge of social media comments from fans who made it clear they would be turning off his music from now on. Rock The Country has earned its MAGA nickname through its country-themed lineup, pro-American branding, and ties to artists such as Kid Rock and Jason Aldean.

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A pinned Instagram post from Ludacris showing him walking around a penthouse suite in a white robe while rapping has been flooded with comments from unhappy followers. One wrote, "Just removed FOUR of your songs off my playlist that gets a lot of traction. This is inexcusable AND inexplicable. But Katt told us."

A second said, "Another artist I love, who I will can no longer support. I hope it was worth it." A third added, "Unfollowed and blocked from all my streaming services, Maga doesn't get my money, disappointing."

Nelly and Ludacris© Getty

A fourth disgruntled fan shared, "People need to really start unfollowing like Nikki (Minaj) so they can understand how big this is! It only affects them when it starts affecting their money. One follower down, ten million to go."

A fifth social media user posted, "I cannot say how profoundly disappointed. I am with everything that's going around in the world. That you would perform and support those people. Actively attacking your community, your history, and your existence.

Ludacris and Nelly© Getty

"I didn't know you had even worn Confederate flags on stage. My wife and I recently watched you here in San Diego, and I'm gonna tell you something. I regretted the reflection of your personal character in this moment. Is all anyone's ever gonna remember you before? And that's really sad, you have a lot of talent and not much decency, just to do stuff for a buck and not for principle."

The addition will see Ludacris appear on stage in Anderson, South Carolina, alongside Creed and Shinedown, as well as Ocala, Florida, with Blake Shelton and Brooks & Dunn. Nelly, meanwhile, will be on the line-up in Hamburg, New York, alongside Kid Rock and Hank Williams Jr.

Rock The Country 2026© Reach Publishing Services Limited

Both Nelly and Ludacris have been slammed as "sellouts" and "cash chasers" by those who are not happy that they would join the line-up of such a MAGA-focused event.

While Nelly has been seen to have links to MAGA in the past - including performing at President Trump's inauguration— Ludacris has been aligned with the Democrats in the past. He threw his support behind Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 and recently endorsed Hill Harper for U.S. Senate in 2024.