It was all a goof. Kid Rock admitted on Tuesday morning (Oct. 24) that his tease about running for Senate in Michigan was all a joke to promote his upcoming album, Sweet Southern Sugar (Nov. 3). “Fuck no I’m not running for Senate. Are you fucking kidding me? Who fucking couldn’t figure that out?” Rock (born Robert Ritchie) told SiriusXM host Howard Stern. The “Devil Without a Cause” rapper stirred up speculation this summer that he could become the latest celebrity to jump into politics when he launched the kidrockforsenate.com site and began selling merchandise.
Saying he was going to run was “the worst advice that I ever gave myself, but it’s been the most creative thing I’ve ever done, and I gotten to see everyone’s true colors,” Rock, 46, was proud that he had gotten endorsements from the White House, former Trump whisperer Steve Bannon, former New York Gov. George Pataki as well as fans from “all over the world” for his fake run. He especially got a laugh out the fact that some of the people in his own inner circle bought the gag that he was going to take on Democrat Debbie Stabenow.
?
The outspoken rocker, who referred to The New York Times as “a little bit gay” during the hour-long appearance when taking shots at what he deemed the “left-wing media,” said there was no way he was ever really going to run, noting that the closest he’s ever come to higher office was snagging class clown in high school. In fact, he had notes written out to read his statement to Stern about not running, but he lost them on the way to the studio and had to wing it.
Rock said once an a fan suggested he might want to run for Senate in Michigan earlier this year he said, “fuck it, let’s get some signs made… we start going with it. Everyone gets their panties in a bunch. I have people who work for me, they’re on the in, I’m like, ‘fuck no we’re not doing it, but let’s roll with it for a little while. This is awesome.'”
Between boasting about his seven houses, tricked-out private jet and making it clear that he just “doesn’t get” Caitlin Jenner, Rock seemed to waffle once again about his political ambitions, noting that he does feel a duty to pay back the country that has made him so ridiculously wealthy. “I struggle with the fact that maybe I haven’t served my country enough,” he told Stern at one point. “Maybe it’s time that I try to make a difference and make this country better for everybody.”
Listen to the exchange below:
In the end, Rock was there to do exactly what the fake Senate run was set up to: plug his Nashville-recorded 11th studio album — which will feature previously released tracks “Podunk” and Greatest Show on Earth” as well as “Tennessee Mountain Top” — and upcoming tour. The Greatest Show on Earth Tour 2018 will kick off on Jan. 19 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and run for 21 dates through a March 24 show at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
Start putting away those Kid Rock For Senate signs and check out the Sweet Southern Sugar track list, as well as the Greatest Show on Earth Tour dates below.
1. “Greatest Show on Earth”
2. “Po-Dunk”
3. “Tennessee Mountain Top”
4. “I Wonder”
5. “American Rock N’ Roll”
6. “Back to the Otherside”
7. “Raining Whiskey”
8. “Stand the Pain”
9. “Sugar Pie Honey Bunch”
10. “Grandpa’s Jam”
Jan. 19 — Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
Jan. 20 — Louisville, KY @ KFC Yum! Center
Jan. 25 — Durant, OK @ Choctaw Grand Theatre
Jan. 26 — Durant, OK @ Choctaw Grand Theatre
Jan. 27 — Durant, OK @ Choctaw Grand Theatre
Feb. 2 — Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center
Feb. 3 — Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
Feb. 9 — Atlanta, GA @ Infinite Energy Arena
Feb. 10 — Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center
Feb. 16 — Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
Feb. 17 — Columbus, OH @ Nationwide Arena
Feb. 23 — Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
Feb. 24 — Cleveland, OH @ Quicken Loans Arena
Mar. 2 — Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena
Mar. 3 — Baltimore, MD @ Royal Farms Arena
Mar. 9 — Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
Mar. 10 — Nassau, NY @ NYCB Live
Mar. 16 — Chicago, IL @ United Center
Mar. 17 — Omaha, NE @ CenturyLink Center
Mar. 20 — Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
Mar. 23 — Phoenix, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort Arena
Mar. 24 — Las Vegas, NV @ Mandalay Bay Events Center