If you are a fan of country music, you might have heard of Kid Rock and Hank Williams Jr., two of the most popular and controversial artists in the genre. They have collaborated on several songs, such as “The ‘F’ Word” and “Naked Women and Beer”, and have a similar image and attitude of being rebellious and outspoken. But are they related by blood, as some people might think? The answer is no, they are not.
Who is Kid Rock?
Kid Rock, whose real name is Robert James Ritchie, was born in Michigan on January 17, 1971. His parents are William Ritchie and Susan Ritchie, who owned multiple car dealerships. He grew up in a large home on extensive property, where he helped his family pick apples and care for their horses. He attended Romeo High School, where he became interested in hip hop music and taught himself how to rap and DJ.
Kid Rock started his professional music career as a member of a hip hop group called the Beast Crew in the late 1980s. He met rapper D-Nice, who helped him get an opening act for Boogie Down Productions. He also met producer Mike E. Clark, who was impressed with his skills and helped him record his debut album, Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast, in 1990. The album was released on Jive Records, but did not achieve much success.
Kid Rock continued to release independent albums in the 1990s, such as The Polyfuze Method (1993) and Early Mornin’ Stoned Pimp (1996), developing a more distinctive style that blended elements of hip hop, rock, country and metal. His breakthrough came with his album Devil Without a Cause (1998), which sold 14 million copies and spawned hits like “Bawitdaba”, “Cowboy” and “Only God Knows Why”. He followed up with Cocky (2001), which featured his duet with Sheryl Crow, “Picture”, and Kid Rock (2003), which included his cover of Bad Company’s “Feel Like Makin’ Love”.
Kid Rock’s musical output since then has tended to be more in the country rock style, starting with his album Rock n Roll Jesus (2007), which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and contained his biggest single to date, “All Summer Long”. He has also released albums such as Born Free (2010), Rebel Soul (2012), First Kiss (2015) and Sweet Southern Sugar (2017). He has won several awards, including five Grammy nominations, two American Music Awards and a CMT Music Award.
Kid Rock is also known for his political views and activism. He is a supporter of the Republican Party and has endorsed candidates such as Donald Trump, Mitt Romney and John James. He has also been involved in various charitable causes, such as his own Kid Rock Foundation, which supports causes related to music education, health care and veterans. He has also performed for US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Who is Hank Williams Jr?
Hank Williams Jr., whose real name is Randall Hank Williams, was born in Louisiana on May 26, 1949. His father was Hank Williams Sr., one of the most influential and legendary figures in country music history. His mother was Audrey Williams, who was also a singer and songwriter. He was raised by his mother after his father died when he was three years old.
Hank Williams Jr. started his music career as a child prodigy, performing his father’s songs on stage and television. He made his recording debut at the age of eight with “Long Gone Lonesome Blues”, a song written by his father. He continued to record albums throughout the 1960s, mostly covering his father’s songs or traditional country tunes. He also appeared in several movies, such as A Time to Sing (1968) and Roadie (1980).
Hank Williams Jr.’s musical style changed dramatically in the 1970s, after he suffered a near-fatal fall from a mountain in Montana that required several surgeries to reconstruct his face. He adopted a more rebellious and rock-oriented persona, influenced by artists such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top and Waylon Jennings. He released albums such as Hank Williams Jr. & Friends (1975), The New South (1977) and Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound (1979), which showcased his new sound and attitude.
Hank Williams Jr.’s popularity soared in the 1980s, when he released several hit albums and singles that blended country, rock, blues and southern rock. Some of his most famous songs from this period include “Family Tradition”, “A Country Boy Can Survive”, “All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight” and “Born to Boogie”. He also became known for his controversial and outspoken opinions on politics, religion and social issues. He won several awards, including four Emmy Awards for his theme song for Monday Night Football, “Are You Ready for Some Football?”.
Hank Williams Jr.’s career continued to be successful in the 1990s and 2000s, with albums such as Lone Wolf (1990), Pure Hank (1991), Out of Left Field (1993), Stormy (1999) and Almeria Club (2002). He also collaborated with other artists, such as Kid Rock, Charlie Daniels, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Brad Paisley. He has won several awards, including a Grammy Award, a CMA Award and an ACM Award.
Hank Williams Jr. is also known for his political views and activism. He is a supporter of the Republican Party and has endorsed candidates such as George W. Bush, John McCain and Sarah Palin. He has also been involved in various charitable causes, such as Farm Aid, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the USO. He has also performed for US troops in Iraq and Kuwait.
Are They Related?
No, Kid Rock and Hank Williams Jr. are not related by blood. They are from different family backgrounds and have different parents. However, they are related by music, as they share a common passion for country music and have collaborated on several songs and projects. They also have a similar image and attitude of being rebellious and outspoken.
Kid Rock has said that he considers Hank Williams Jr. to be his mentor and friend, and has jokingly referred to him as his “rebel son”. Hank Williams Jr. has also said that he respects Kid Rock’s talent and versatility, and has called him his “rebel buddy”. They have performed together on stage and in the studio, and have appeared in each other’s music videos.
However, not everyone is happy with their relationship. Hank Williams III, the real son of Hank Williams Jr., has expressed his dislike for Kid Rock, calling him an “asshole” and a “yank” who is not a real country artist. He has also criticized his father for associating with him, saying that he is tarnishing his legacy.
Conclusion
Kid Rock and Hank Williams Jr. are not related by blood, but they are related by music. They are two of the most popular and controversial artists in country music, who have collaborated on several songs and projects. They have a similar image and attitude of being rebellious and outspoken. However, their relationship is not approved by everyone, especially by Hank Williams III, who is the real son of Hank Williams Jr.
