Kid Rock opened up about his collaboration with fellow Detroit musician Eminem on his new Christian album, “Halfway 2 Jesus,” telling “My View with Lara Trump” on Saturday that the longtime friends have refused to let their political differences come between them.
The rocker said he hoped the collaboration would send a message about maintaining friendships despite political disagreements, highlighting his nearly 40-year friendship with Eminem.
“We said years ago, we said, ‘Man, let’s not let politics divide us.’ And we never did. And so when I asked him to be part of this… he totally got it,” Kid Rock said.
“Two little foul-mouthed white rappers from Detroit maybe could set a good example for the rest of this country” by showing that it’s OK to differ politically and still be friends, he added.
He called Eminem a “class act” and said the freedom to hold differing opinions is what makes the United States great.
“Since when can you not express your points and your views and your opinions?” Kid Rock said, adding that he believes politics has no place onstage.
Instead, the Detroit-born singer hopes to use his music to bring people together through faith. His new Christian album reflects his lifelong relationship with God, he said, rather than a sudden religious conversion.
He described the album as a collection of songs centered on forgiveness and second chances and outlined plans to bring Christian revival-style performances to arenas and stadiums.
“After Charlie Kirk was assassinated, like a lot of people, I started to become closer to my faith,” Kid Rock said, adding that his renewed focus on faith inspired a period of songwriting that shaped the album.
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Despite the album’s religious themes, the singer rejected the suggestion that he had undergone a sudden religious conversion, saying his faith has always been part of his identity.
“I didn’t get saved. I’m still Kid Rock. I’m still going to drink a beer and smoke a cigar,” he said.
“I feel like I’ve always been right with God.”
Kid Rock also pointed to a connection between his birthday, Jan. 17, 1971, and his middle name, James, and the Bible verse James 1:17, which he said “basically says all good things come from God.”
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Beyond his personal faith, the singer said he hopes the album will encourage Americans to put aside their political differences.
“This record is about second chances and forgiveness. It’s about trying to heal some of the division in our country,” he said.
He said he wants to bring his Christian music to arenas and stadiums, combining a traditional rock concert with a religious revival.
“I wanted to create the songs that I wanted to go to church and hear,” he said.
“And I want to have revivals, Saturday night revivals in arenas, stadiums, people drinking beer, having a good time, celebrating our Lord and Savior,” he said, calling the proposed performances a “full-on monster rock show.”
“I think that could do a lot of good in the world.”
