Which artists have publicly denied involvement with Turning Point USA’s All American Halftime Show?

1. Who has been explicitly ruled out or denied involvement

Rolling Stone reported that social posts and AI-generated images claiming Neil Young and Joan Baez would co-headline TPUSA’s show are false, saying those claims are not accurate and that fabricated materials circulated online misrepresented the artists’ involvement ^[1]; Rolling Stone also relayed a rep for Willie Nelson calling similar posts “AI horseshit,” which functions as an explicit denial of his participation ^[1]. Those are the clearest, sourced refusals or fact-checks in the reporting provided: Rolling Stone documents both the fabricated promotional material and the artist-side repudiations ^[1].

2. Viral claims that have been debunked but lack an individual artist denial

Several high-profile names have been attached to the event by social posts and rumor, and fact-checking outlets have called those stories into question even where artists themselves haven’t issued direct denials. PrimeTimer flagged viral social posts claiming Adam Sandler would headline and treated that as a debunked social-media rumor rather than a confirmed booking ^[3]. Deseret News and other outlets likewise catalogued speculation about Creed and other acts after TPUSA staffers and affiliates seeded talk about possible performers, but those reports focus on speculation and do not quote band members denying involvement ^[4].

3. Artists who have neither denied nor confirmed (and why that matters)

Several prominent names have appeared in coverage as possible participants without having publicly said yes or no. News coverage noted Tom MacDonald reacted to suggestions he be invited, posting to his social channels and asking followers what they thought rather than issuing a straight denial or confirmation ^[5]. TMZ and multiple outlets noted Nicki Minaj made an appearance at a TPUSA event but “has not said whether she will be involved in the halftime event,” indicating presence at an affiliated event does not equal a confirmed booking ^{[6] [2]}. TPUSA’s deliberate secrecy about performers — the organization has kept details under wraps while promoting the “All American Halftime Show” as “100 percent on” — fuels rumor and makes independent confirmation from artists especially important ^{[2] [7]}.

4. Why false or ambiguous claims spread around this particular event

The combination of TPUSA’s refusal to disclose performers, partisan incentives to boost or discredit an “alternative” halftime show, and the ease of AI-manipulated imagery has produced fertile ground for misinformation: Rolling Stone documented AI-faked ads and social posts that falsely paired legends like Young and Baez with the TPUSA event ^[1], while media outlets recorded TPUSA staff and allies teasing possibilities that encouraged speculation ^{[4] [2]}. That ecosystem means news consumers must distinguish between artist statements, representative denials, platform fact-checking, and mere social chatter.

5. What reporting does not (yet) show — and the responsible conclusion

The available reporting provides explicit denials or fact checks for Neil Young, Joan Baez and, via a rep, Willie Nelson ^[1], and shows other names tied to the event through speculation or appearances without confirmations — Adam Sandler’s alleged headlining was debunked by social-media fact-checking outlets ^[3], and Tom MacDonald and Nicki Minaj have responded to suggestions or appeared at related events without committing to the halftime lineup ^{[5] [6]}. Beyond the items cited here, the record in the provided sources does not show formal, broad-based denial statements from many of the other artists rumored to be involved; absent a direct statement from an artist or their representative, claims of participation remain unverified ^{[2] [4]}.