BATON ROUGE, LA – Organizers for Rock the Country confirmed this week that the 2026 tour will bypass Louisiana entirely after reports surfaced that Gov. Jeff Landry is interested in requiring a live Texas steer to be present at all country music performances held in the state.
Festival planners said concerns escalated after clarification was requested on whether the animal would be permitted to wander through general admission, VIP areas, or both. Liability questions were met with what one organizer called “pretty vague answers.”
Louisiana previously hosted Rock the Country stops in Gonzales and most recently at the Livingston Fairgrounds in Livingston, but officials say the new requirement would apply statewide, regardless of venue size.
Landry’s office has not denied the reports, stating only that the governor believes modern country music has “lost touch with livestock.”
Festival organizers said Louisiana could be reconsidered in future years, pending clarification on whether the steer would be leashed, insured, or allowed backstage.
