Bad Bunny and Kid Rock to Headline Salt Lake Temple Open House Unity Concert
"Every division can be healed through the gospel of Jesus Christ"
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced this week that the upcoming open house celebration for the newly renovated Salt Lake Temple will kick off with a Unity in Zion concert headlined by reggaeton superstar Bad Bunny and rock artist Kid Rock, performing alongside the Tabernacle Choir on April 5, 2027.
The announcement was made by Elder R. Benson Crabtree of the Seventy, who serves as managing director of the Church’s Special Projects Department. “The Lord has always gathered His children through music,” Elder Crabtree said at a press conference Tuesday. “We are simply expanding the playlist.”
Sources close to the planning process indicate the concert was set in motion when President Dallin H. Oaks attended a family Super Bowl party in February. During Bad Bunny’s halftime show performance, his teenage grandson Dylan loudly complained about the Spanish lyrics and abruptly switched the channel over to Kid Rock’s alternative halftime show on TPUSA’s YouTube channel. As Kid Rock sang Bawitdaba, various family members tried to explain to President Oaks the reasons for there being two halftime shows. One daughter remembered her father repeatedly shaking his head in utter bafflement.
The following Thursday, during the weekly meeting of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve, President Oaks proposed a bold idea: a unity concert featuring Bad Bunny and Kid Rock to kick off the Salt Lake Temple open house celebrations and demonstrate that the gospel of Jesus Christ can heal every wound and overcome every division. Support was immediate and unanimous. According to one source, Elder Ulisses Soares raised his arms and shouted “¡Vamos!,” while Elder Dale G. Renlund began playing a vigorous air guitar solo.
Elder D. Todd Christofferson, with his long ties to Puerto Rico, volunteered to reach out to Bad Bunny’s management. When President Oaks asked if someone was willing to connect with Kid Rock, a long, awkward silence ensued. After several more excruciating minutes, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf reportedly sighed deeply and said “not this again,” and suggested a straw poll. Elder Quentin L. Cook drew the short straw.
Discussions with both camps proceeded smoothly until the joint concert was proposed. Bad Bunny reportedly exploded in anger at the idea, repeatedly shouting the words cabrón and pendejo. Meanwhile, Kid Rock’s team also forcefully rejected the idea, responding that he would only perform with “a real American who knows how to speaking f****** English.”
After being told of the impasse, President Oaks smiled wryly and said, “It’s time to bring in the calvary.” He asked his secretary to call Utah State University professor and international peace facilitator Chad Ford. “Brother Ford,” President Oaks said, “are you ready for your toughest assignment yet?”
After weeks of negotiation, Ford convinced Bad Bunny and Kid Rock to join him for a day-long mediation workshop at the historic Castillo San Felipe del Morro in San Juan, Puerto Rico. After explaining the concept of “turning first,” he invited Mr. Rock to say something kind about Mr. Bunny. After shifting uncomfortably in his seat for several minutes, he reportedly said “your white suit in the superbowl concert was pretty bada***.” Bad Bunny appeared touched, and in return said “Tú le metes mano a la guitarra, pa” (you can really shred on the guitar). Soon, the two were laughing over a shared hatred of Ticketmaster and by the end of the day had agreed to the unity concert. “We’re both Christian after all,” said Kid Rock.
In its official statement posted on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, the First Presidency wrote:
“Music has always been a hallmark of the Restoration. From the Nauvoo brass bands to the fiddles on the pioneer plains, to the Tabernacle Choir, the Saints have gathered in song to forge Zion and strengthen our faith in Christ. As we open the doors of the newly renovated Salt Lake Temple to the world, we hope this concert sends a signal that all can find healing and peace in the Lord.”
The Unity in Zion concert is scheduled for April 5, 2027 and will take place at the center of the newly redesigned temple square. The event is free and open to the public and the church estimates more than 100,000 will attend. In September 2026 the church will launch an app to book tickets and it has arranged with UTA for ticket holders to use TRAX, Frontrunner and the bus to travel downtown.
Reached for comment, Mack Wilberg, music director of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, admitted that the proposed concert initially seemed “highly bizarre,” but the idea has grown on him and he’s now enthusiastic about the creative challenge of blending the different musical styles. He’s currently at work on an arrangement weaving together Bad Bunny’s BAILE INoLVIDABLE, Kid Rock’s Born Free, and the rousing pioneer anthem The Spirit of God. Chuckling to himself, Wilberg remarked, “Zion is made of all kinds of folks, I guess.”
Correction: An earlier version of this article stated that Kid Rock would be performing his 2001 hit “Bawitdaba” as a duet with Gladys Knight. This was a misquote. The Church has clarified that Ms. Knight is still considering the invitation.
This is a bananas well conceived April Fools
I spent an hour rejoicing. I was going to write my newsletter about this today. And then I realized it isn’t true. 😭😭😭
I really did believe it. It didn’t seem too outlandish to me, because this is what my organization Summit Stages is all about — drawing people from across divides to tell shared stories (in our case through musical theatre) in order to build Zion. It was the shocking level of transparency and the final quote that finally tipped me off.
I guess the silver lining on it’s being a joke is that the world still needs Summit Stages. But oh, this was a beautiful dream!