Kid Rock hopes the Christian music album he’s releasing alongside fellow Detroit musician Eminem, despite their political differences, will enable him to bring his faith-based music to arenas and stadiums and inspire a religious revival.
Rock, whose real name is Robert James Ritchie, recently told Fox News host Lara Trump that the album, Halfway 2 Jesus, is a reflection of his lifelong relationship with God.
Eminem appears on the track “7 Sins,” and country singers Gary LeVox and Jimmie Allen appear on the title track, Heavy Consequence reported.
“After Charlie Kirk was assassinated, like a lot of people, I started to become closer to my faith,” the 55-year-old musician said.
Rock, who headlined Turning Point USA’s “All-American Halftime Show” earlier this year, said religion has always been part of his identity, and he pushed back against the idea that the album’s Christian theme stems from some sort of spiritual conversion.
“I didn’t get saved. I’m still Kid Rock. I’m still going to drink a beer and smoke a cigar,” he explained, adding, “I feel like I’ve always been right with God.”
According to the singer-songwriter, Halfway 2 Jesus, a 17-song album that also carries a parental advisory sticker, is about “second chances and forgiveness.” He later explained that he wants to play his Christian music in arenas and stadiums.
“I wanted to create the songs that I wanted to go to church and hear,” Rock explained.
“And I want to have revivals, Saturday night revivals in arenas, stadiums, people drinking beer, having a good time, celebrating our Lord and Savior,” describing the performance as a “full-on monster rock show.”
“I think that could do a lot of good in the world,” he said.
He also expressed hope that the album will help heal some of the country’s divisions and encourage Americans to put aside their political differences. Rock referred to musician Eminem as a “class act,” saying he believes the United States is so great because people can come together regardless of their politics.
“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,” Rock said about his nearly 40-year friendship with Eminem.
“Two little foul-mouthed white rappers from Detroit maybe could set a good example for the rest of this country,” he added.
The collaboration has drawn criticism from some Eminem fans, who pointed to his 2017 BET Hip Hop Awards cipher criticizing Trump supporters, XXL reported. Eminem has not publicly commented.
Samantha Kamman is a reporter for The Christian Post. She can be reached at: [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter: @Samantha_Kamman
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