Organizers of the Rock the Country Festival have canceled the tour’s planned Anderson, South Carolina, stop scheduled for July 25 and 26, following several artists from the lineup dropping out, Rolling Stone reported.

The cancellation came after the band Shinedown announced last week it would no longer perform on the tour. “Shinedown is everyone’s band. We feel that we have been given a platform to bring all people together through the power of music and song,” the band wrote in an Instagram statement on Friday. “We have one BOSS, and it is everyone in the audience. Our band’s purpose is to unite, not divide.”

Performers Ludacris — whose rep told Roling Stone that the hip-hop star “wasn’t supposed to be on there” — Morgan Wade and Carter Faith also pulled out of the South Carolina stop after being announced on the bill in January.

The Anderson lineup was set to feature Kid Rock and Jason Aldean, along with Creed, Brantley Gilbert, Gretchen Wilson and Parmalee, the report said.

Festival organizers said in a statement Monday that they refused to compromise on quality for their fans.

“Rock the Country was created to unite people together through music,” the festival said. “We’re truly disappointed we won’t be bringing the show to Anderson. Our fans work hard for their money, and we refuse to put on a show that doesn’t meet the standard they deserve.”

The tour was originally scheduled to visit eight towns across the United States. With the South Carolina date scrapped, seven stops remain, beginning May 1 and 2 in Belleville, Texas, and ending Sept. 11 and 12 in Hamburg, New York.

Remaining performances to go on as scheduled

Organizers emphasized their commitment to the remaining shows.

“Our focus remains where it’s always been: Supporting our artists, honoring our fans,and delivering unforgettable nights throughout the country,” they said. “The shows ahead represent the heart of what Rock the Country stands for: music, community, and pride in where we come from.”

Kid Rock launched the tour in 2024, and Anderson has hosted the festival for the past two years. Anderson County administrator Rusty Burns told Rolling Stone the event had been successful for the area.

“The event was a huge success drawing tens of thousands of visitors, making a multi-million-dollar economic impact on the Upstate,” Burns said. “Of course, we are disappointed that Rock the Country will not return to Anderson this year.”